Anxiety is a mental disorder that may negatively affect day-to-day living. Approximately 8 percent of adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18 have an anxiety disorder, with symptoms commonly emerging around 6 years of age. Several types of anxiety disorders, also called affective disorders, affect children. Deficiencies of certain nutrients increase risk of anxiety in children. Consult a doctor about your child’s diet and mental health.
Types
Child anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social phobia. Generalized anxiety disorder includes excessive worry, trembling and inability to relax and concentrate. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by recurrent thought and repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily activities. Panic disorder symptoms include sudden terror, sweatiness and fear. Post-traumatic-stress disorder is marked by flashbacks, frightening feelings and thoughts, guilt and lack of pleasurable pursuits. Social phobia is characterized by chronic fear of being humiliated.
Causes
The causes of anxiety disorders in children involve psychological, biological and socio-cultural factors. Childhood traumatic experiences, such as parental separation or discord, violence and sexual abuse increase risk of anxiety, according to research by scientists at the University of Gottingen in Germany and published in European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience in December 2004. Scientists in Israel discovered 57 percent of children in dysfunctional families develop anxiety compared to 4 percent in well-functioning families, according to research published in "Harefuah" in 1989. Chemical imbalances of certain neurotransmitters, substances that communicate messages in the brain, are associated with anxiety.
Amino Acid Deficiencies
Anxiety is associated with alterations of gamma-aminobutyric acid, also called GABA, according to scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and published in "Molecular Psychiatry" in August 2006. The scientists report the amino acid glutamate, also called glutamic acid, produces GABA in your brain and that a glutamate deficiency decreases GABA production and increases anxiety risk. Glutamate is found in protein-rich foods, such as meat and eggs. Mood disorders often occur with anxiety. Deficiencies of the amino acids tryptophan and tyrosine are associated with reduced production of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine, respectively. Scientists at the University of New South Wales in Australia report deficiencies of tryptophan and tyrosine may increase risk of depression, according to research published in "Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica" in April 2011. Tryptophan is found in bananas and beans, whereas tyrosine is found in avocados and seafood.
Vitamin, Mineral and Fatty Acid Deficiencies
Childhood anxiety is associated with deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and omega-3 fatty acids. Deficiencies of vitamin A, vitamin D, B vitamins, magnesium and calcium increases your risk of anxiety. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland reports a vitamin B-6 deficiency increases brain deficiencies of GABA, dopamine and norepinephrine, according to research published in “Neurochemical Research" in June 1989. Scientists at Felsenstein Medical Research Center in Petah Tiqwa, Israel found social anxiety disorder is associated with low levels of omega-3 fatty acids, according to research published in "European Neuropsychopharmacology" in February 2006.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents Fact Sheet; 2011
- National Institute of Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders; 2010
- "European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience"; Early Traumatic Life Events, Parental Rearing Styles, Family History of Mental Disorders, and Birth Risk Factors in Patients with Social Anxiety Disorder; Borwin Bandelow, et al.; Dec 2004
- "Harefuah"; Mental Disorders in Severely Dysfunctional and in Well-Functioning Families; L. Ben-Noun; May 1 1989
- "Molecular Psychiatry"; Glutamic Acid Anxiety Depression; J.M. Hettema, et al.; Aug 2006
- The Center For The Improvement Of Human Functioning International; Proteins / Amino Acids Mar 21 2011
