Studies that have been done with children have shown that
cognitive behavioral therapy which includes education about the
nature of anxiety, ways to identify, evaluate, and change
anxious thoughts, and training in relaxation strategies have all
been used with some success. Children with Generalized Anxiety
Disorder are also taught to learn to recognize the physiological
symptoms of anxiety, and are taught to use positive “self-talk”
rather than negative self-talk. Parents are included to provide
reinforcement and rewards for children’s success, and to learn
to implement and practice the skills with their children. When
the symptoms are severe, medication may be included as part of
the treatment. These medications may include what have been
called the SSRIs: the most commonly known is Prozac.