Question about a possible anxiety disorder in a preteen?

Can an 11 year old develop OCD? Does this also sound like depression? How common are anxiety disorders and depression in preteen children? What would these symptoms sound like? How can the child best be helped, so they don’t feel alone?

It is dangerous to arm chair diagnose mental disorder or illness. That being said I will say that such symptoms are usually associated with trauma, either physical abuse, sexual abuse, social abuse, emotional abuse etc. Something would have happened in that child’s life that is scary, hurtful and beyond what the child should have to endure, especially if these are changed behaviors from how the child was.
Note when these symptoms began and what may have been going on at that time. Was he or she away at camp, had a new babysitter, any boys or men hanging around the child, being bullied at school or in your neighborhood?
The symptoms are remarkably close to what children experience who have PTSD but only a face to face Professional session will bring about an appropriate diagnosis. Should you choose, and I certainly hope you will, to have this child start therapy, it is important that he or she is part of the selection process in choosing the right therapist. Also you will want to insist on gender specific if its important to the child. The child must feel some empowerment in the selection and comfortable with the therapist. Important also is that the therapist specializes in Childhood Trauma or childhood issues.
Obviously this kid needs love, emotional support and a sense that the adults in his/her world are going to create a safety net and truly needs therapy. These symptoms reflect some insurmountable pain is attached to this child..

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