Clinical Anxiety or Anxiety Disorders are much, much stronger versions of these normal feelings, and they are not always directly connected to stress. Young people with Anxiety Disorders have intense fear and worry. They also may develop problems sleeping and have physical symptoms like headaches, stomach aches and nausea. Anxiety Disorders cannot be controlled by will power, and they often come and go in unpredictable ways. They interfere with young persons' everyday lives and keep them from doing usual activities.

Anxiety Disorders are the most common mental illnesses in the United States; about 13 percent of American children and adolescents are affected by Anxiety Disorders each year.

There are different kinds of Anxiety Disorders that affect children and adolescents:

• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Phobias
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently the medications of choice for the treatment of childhood and adult anxiety disorders. This group includes fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), and escitalopram (Lexapro). Tricyclic antidepressants (e.g. imipramine) and benzodiazepines (e.g. lorazepam) are less commonly used in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders. However this class of antidepressants is not always appropriate as the FDA has found that they can cause suicidality in some adolescents. Because of this, psychotherapy and other complementary and alternative methods can be viable treatment options.

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