By Liza Finlay
Updated Jul 29, 2014It’s our worst fear: There’s something wrong with our child. Like, really wrong. However, most of the childhood behaviours that parents fear are “abnormal” are, in fact, well within the realm of normal. Oh, we may not like them much, but that doesn’t make them disordered. Sure, having to coax your six-your-old onto the stage for her ballet recital is exhausting, but her stage fright needn’t earn her a diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
We worry too much. That’s our job as moms and dads. But when is that worry truly warranted? When should we ride out an on-cue developmental phase and when should we pull the chute and ask for professional help?
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