Taming The Wild Things

Despite huge gains in knowledge about the neurophysiological and psychological roots of anxiety, as well as the billions spent each year on psychotropic medications meant to assuage anxiety, Americans are more anxious than ever. Anxiety disorders—OCD, phobias, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, separation anxiety—are by far the most commonly diagnosed disorders in America, especially among the young. More than 30 percent of children up to age 18 receive one of these diagnoses at some point, and anxiety symptoms are the primary reason parents seek out a mental health professional for their child.

Why are our children so anxious and getting more so? At first, the epidemic of childhood anxiety disorders seems puzzling. After all, we live in the age of “helicopter parents” and ubiquitous child professionals—teachers, counselors, therapists—all trying their best to shield children from feelings of fear, insecurity, uncertainty, or discomfort. Professionals and parents alike seem to share the sentiment that allowing children to feel afraid is tantamount to neglect, like not getting kids vaccinated or withholding antibiotics when they’re ill. We seem to regard a child’s anxiety as a kind of infection, caused by an “anxiety bug” of some sort. As soon as this “pathology” surfaces, we feel we must immediately remove all sources of the pathogen. If the child is afraid of school, keep her home. If he’s afraid to sleep alone, don’t make him. If…