Can you tell at a very young age if a child has anxiety issues (read more)?

Anxiety issues in a child can develop at a very early age … the question here is whether she is simply acting according to what her parents are teaching her (I’m not insinuating that she’s being abused at home, but that’s one reason why children that young show anxiety), or if she does have a disorder of some kind. My oldest daughter has Asperger’s, but the real symptoms didn’t show up until she started school and was forced to “socialize” with other children. Either way, it’s normal for a three year old to be afraid of specific things, when taught by their parents to beware, but the fear of having her diaper changed (and, at 3 years old, potty training should be well in effect), or the repeated phrases “I ok”, and “fine”, tend to raise suspicions that not everything is kosher. I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with her parents, but it may not be a bad idea to write down some of things she is doing that concern you, and suggest they take her to a doctor.

thank you that is a great idea, i know she is well taken care and stuff. i don’t know what exactly goes on when i’m not around. My bf another sister with Asperger’s so it is quite possible she could have it. is it hereditary?

See i don’t want his sister to think i’m offending her by suggesting it But maybe my bf and i can sit her down and see what we noticed. She has to know some of the things the little girl panics about is not normal. i just feel so helpless cuz she’s not my child,

Yes - it can be inherited, so there’s your ace-in-the-hole. Suggesting she may have it is a fair assumption.

i didn’t even think about that it before hand my bf and i will have to sit down and talk to his sister about it. thanks again =)

‘Anxiety issues’ tends to imply that they are innate and within the person. (That’s just how the DSM views mental disorders). It is possible to diagnose a child at that age. But I wouldn’t. At that age, if the child is displaying those symptoms, I’d guess that the caregivers were somehow influencing them. That with a mixture of the child’s innate tendencies. But still. A child that age displaying signs like that without the influence of the caregivers would be extremely unusual.