Statistics
• On average, separation anxiety and most phobias begin to appear by age 7
• Panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders are often seen by age 10
Warning Signs
• Extreme irritability during infancy
• Fearfulness in toddlerhood
• Very shy behavior around puberty
• Inability to relax or face fear
Prevention
• One approach targets 3-to-5-year-olds who show inhibited behavior. Parents are taught to expose the kids, gradually, to situations that frighten them rather than indulge fears