Anxiety

Anxiety Disorders are very common disorders that cause you to intensely, excessively, and persistently worry and fear about everyday situations. It is excessive and intrusive worrying to stressful life events and disrupts your daily functioning. Here are many different types, signs, symptoms, kinds of treatment and management tips that may help you learn more about anxiety:

Anxiety Disorders

How do Anxiety Disorders affect people?

• Symptoms can feel strange & confusing at first

• For some, physical sensations can be strong & upsetting

• For others, feelings of doom or fear that can happen for no reason can make them feel scared, unprotected, & on guard

• Constant worries can make a person feel overwhelmed by every little thing

• Might avoid talking about their worries, thinking that others might not understand

• May fear being unfairly judged, or considered weak or scared

What causes Anxiety Disorders?

• Several things seem to play a role, including genetics, brain biochemistry, an overactive fight-flight response, stressful life circumstances, & learned behavior

• Someone with a family member who has it has a greater chance of developing one

• May be related to genes that can affect brain chemistry & regulation of chemicals called neurotransmitters

How are Anxiety Disorders treated?

• By mental health professionals or therapists

What to DO:

• Getting problem treated can help a person feel like himself/herself again

• Someone who might be dealing with this should:

  • Tell a parent or other adult about physical sensations, worries, or fears

  • Get a checkup

  • Work with a mental health professional

  • Get regular exercise, good nutrition, & sleep

Types of Anxiety Disorders

Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Display excessive anxiety or worry, most days for at least 6 months

• Symptoms include: feeling restless, irritable, easily fatigued, difficulty concentrating, mind going blank, sleeping problems, muscle tension, difficulty controlling feelings of worry

Panic Disorder

• Unexpected panic attacks, which are sudden periods of intense fear that come on quickly & reach their peak within minutes

• Can be brought on by a trigger

• May experience: heart palpitations, pounding heartbeat, accelerated heart rate, sweating, trembling/shaking, sensations of shortness of breath/smothering/choking, feelings of impending doom, and feelings of being out of control

Phobia-related Disorders

• May have an irrational or excessive worry about encountering the feared object or situation

• Take active steps to avoid the feared object or situation

• Experience immediate intense anxiety upon encountering the feared object or situation

• Endure unavoidable objects & situations with intense anxiety

Social Anxiety Disorder

• General intense fear of social or performance situations

• Worry about actions or behaviors associated with their anxiety will be negatively evaluated by others, leading them to feel embarrassed

• Avoid social situations

Agoraphobia

An intense fear of 2 or more of following situations:

• Using public transportation

• Being in open spaces

• Being in enclosed spaces

• Standing in line or being in a crowd

• Being outside of the home alone

- They avoid these situations because they think being able to leave might be hard or impossible in the event they have panic-like reaction or other embarrassing symptoms

Separation anxiety disorder

• Often thought of as something that only children deal with

• Adults can also have this

• Have fears about being parted from people to whom they’re attached

• Worry that some sort of harm will happen to their attachment figures while they’re separated - Leads them to avoid being separated from their attachment figures & to avoid being alone

• May have nightmares about being separated from attachment figures or experience physical symptoms when separation occurs or is anticipated

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders

Signs of Teen Anxiety Disorder

About 32% of American teens between ages of 13 & 18 have an anxiety disorder at some point, but it is not easy to tell when a teen may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, as typical teen stress and anxiety have overlap. Here are some signs/ways to recognize teen anxiety disorders:

• Teens with an anxiety disorder experience particularly high levels of anxiety

  • These feelings get worse over time, rather than improving on their own

• Teens with anxiety disorders struggle with feelings of tension & fear that can interfere with daily activities at work & school

  • Also affects relationships with peers & family members

• Emotional Changes

  • Feeling “keyed up”

  • Feeling on edge

  • Irritability

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Restlessness

  • Unexplained outbursts

• Social Changes

  • Avoiding social interactions with usual friends

  • Avoiding extracurricular activities they usually enjoy

  • Isolating from peer group

  • Spending increased time alone

  • Substance use disorder, using drugs & drinking as forms of self-medication

  • Avoiding people, places, & things that trigger anxious feelings

• Physical Changes

  • Frequent headaches, including migraines

  • Gastrointestinal problems

  • Unexplained aches & pains

  • Excessive fatigue

  • Complaints of not feeling well with no obvious medical cause

  • Changes in eating habits: Loss of appetite & eating disturbances, inability to enjoy meals once favored

• Sleep Disturbance

  • Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

  • Frequent nightmares

  • Not feeling refreshed after sleep

  • Constant exhaustion and feeling worn down

• Poor School Performance

  • Significant jump in grades (usually downward); poor test results and report cards

  • Frequently missed assignments

  • Describes feeling overwhelmed by workload

  • Procrastinates on, or has difficulty concentrating on, homework assignments more than usual

Managing Anxiety: Coping Strategies

Activities:

• Take a time-out & do something else. Stepping back from the problem can help you clear your head!

• Practice yoga, go for a walk, listen to music, meditate, get a massage, try aromatherapy or learn other relaxation techniques

• Exercise daily to help you feel good & maintain your health

• Get involved: Volunteer or find another way to be active in your community, which creates a support network & gives you a break from everyday stress

• Spend time unplugged in nature

Diet:

• Eat well-balanced meals

• Don’t skip any meals

• Keep healthful, energy-boosting snacks on hand

• Limit alcohol, smoking & caffeine, which can aggravate anxiety & trigger panic attacks

Breathe:

Practice focused, deep breathing: Take deep breaths - Inhale & exhale slowly - Count to 10 slowly - Repeat, & count to 20 if necessary

Sleep:

Get enough sleep - When stressed, your body needs additional sleep & rest

Reflect:

• Question your thought pattern

• Write down your thoughts: Write in a journal when you’re feeling stressed or anxious, & look for a pattern

• Identify & learn to manage your triggers - Is it work, family, school, or something else you can identify?

Stay Positive:

• Do your best, instead of aiming for perfection, which isn’t possible, be proud of however close you get

• Accept that you can’t control everything

• Put your stress in perspective: is it really as bad as you think?

• Welcome humor - A good laugh goes a long way

• Make an effort to replace negative thoughts with positive ones

Talk to someone

• Tell friends & fam you’re feeling overwhelmed, & let them know how they can help you = Authentic, compassionate connections with family & peers

• Talk to a physician or therapist for professional help

• Adopt cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

• Ask your doctor about medications

Treatment for Anxiety

When to Seek Professional Help -

If you are experiencing chronic symptoms of anxiety that are interfering with your life:

If teen appears to be struggling with anxiety that interferes with school, friendships, family relationships, or other areas of daily functioning, it’s important to get an evaluation from a license mental health practitioner

Psychotherapy (“talk therapy”)

Example: Cognitive behavioral therapy

Medication

Anti-Anxiety Medications: help reduce symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks, or extreme fear & worry

Antidepressants - Beta-Blockers: help relieve physical symptoms of anxiety (i.e., rapid heartbeat, shaking, trembling, & blushing)