Most, however, are afraid to be away from home. In either case the child gets sick at school and is well when at home. If a child is ill at home, or gets ill when she goes out to play with her friends, or gets ill from the exertion of a family outing, the problem is NOT school phobia. Social phobics may also fear all strangers. If a child avoids or seems ill at ease in family gatherings of five or more people, or won't go out of the house alone, won't go into a well known store alone, or won't play with groups of children, he might have social phobia.
Depression is a mood disorder.
If there isn't a bad or low mood, there is no depression. The depressed person feels sad even in pleasant circumstances, is often tearful for no particular reason, does not enjoy normally pleasurable activities. Anxiety is the medical word for unreasonable fear. If a child is afraid of a large, aggressive, and unfriendly dog, that's not anxiety. If he is afraid of all dogs, not matter how small and friendly, that is anxiety.