Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are common mental health challenges in children, teenagers, and adults alike. These mental health conditions can be more than simply a nuisance, and may make day-to-day life difficult for your little one. At Angel Kids Pediatrics, with multiple locations in Jacksonville, Amelia Island, and Saint Johns, Florida, the compassionate psychologists offer anxiety and depression treatments to improve your little one’s mood. Schedule an evaluation by contacting 904-224-KIDS (5437) today.

What are anxiety and depression?

Anxiety and depression are mental health conditions that affect your child’s mood, thoughts, and emotions. These conditions can affect the way a child acts and their ability to thrive at school, work, or in social situations. Anxiety causes fear or worry, while depression is characterized by extreme or ongoing sadness.

What are the symptoms of anxiety and depression?

If your child has anxiety or depression, or both of these common mental health conditions, they may experience:

• Anxiousness, fear, or ongoing worry
• Sadness
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Social isolation
• Thoughts of suicide
• Behavioral problems
• Substance abuse

Many times, anxiety accompanies depression — though the two conditions don’t always appear together. 

What are the risk factors for anxiety and depression?

The exact cause of anxiety and depression isn’t entirely clear, but possible risk factors in children include:

• Family history of anxiety or depression
• Personal history of mental health conditions
• Stress
• Trauma
• Bullying
• Hormone fluctuations
• Social isolation
• Neglect
• Abuse
• Body image
• Having a medical condition

Adopting healthy habits at home and having a strong social support system in place can reduce your child’s chance of developing anxiety and depression.

How are anxiety and depression diagnosed?

Angel Kids Pediatrics may diagnose your child with anxiety and depression at an appointment with their pediatrician, or during an assessment with one of our psychologists. They will complete a full evaluation before customizing your child’s treatment plan. 

How are anxiety and depression treated?

The behavioral health psychologists at Angel Kids Pediatrics offer highly effective treatments for anxiety and depression, in addition to a number of behavioral health conditions. Recommendations and individualized plans of care may be developed based on your child’s specific needs.

They follow up with your child or teen to ensure the treatment is effective and meet with them for counseling as often as needed to maximize their mental health and well-being.

Angel Kids Pediatrics takes your child's mental health seriously! Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social and coping skills. Symptoms of mental and behavioral disorders change over time as children grow, so if you have concerns for your child's mental or behavioral health, contact 904-224-KIDS (5437) today for a check up from the neck up!