What to know and how to help Anxiety & Children What to know and how to help

What is Anxiety? Intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations Repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks) Interfere with daily activities, are difficult to control, are out of proportion to the actual danger and can last a long time Symptoms may start during childhood or the teen years and continue into adulthood

Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety Feeling nervous, restless or tense Feeling weak or tired Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry Having an increased heart rate Having trouble sleeping Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation) Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems Sweating Having difficulty controlling worry Trembling Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

Types of Anxiety Agoraphobia Selective Mutism** Anxiety disorder due to a medical condition Separation Anxiety Disorder** Generalized Anxiety Disorder Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia)** Panic Disorder Specific Phobias** Substance-induced Anxiety Disorder Other specified anxiety disorder and unspecified anxiety disorder There are many different types of anxiety. Of this list, there are 4 main types you might see within children – Selective Mutism; Separation Anxiety Disorder; Social Anxiety Disorder; and Specific Phobias.

Anxiety in Children Selective mutism is a consistent failure of children to speak in certain situations, such as school, even when they can speak in other situations, such as at home with close family members. This can interfere with school, work and social functioning. Separation anxiety disorder is a childhood disorder characterized by anxiety that's excessive for the child's developmental level and related to separation from parents or others who have parental roles. Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) involves high levels of anxiety, fear and avoidance of social situations due to feelings of embarrassment, self-consciousness and concern about being judged or viewed negatively by others. Specific phobias are characterized by major anxiety when you're exposed to a specific object or situation and a desire to avoid it. Phobias provoke panic attacks in some people.

Examples of Anxiety within Children You walk into the cafeteria and see your friends whispering and laughing. You’re afraid they’re laughing at you. Even when they promise they weren’t, you keep worrying. You love soccer and you want to try out for the team, but you don’t because you’re worried about people looking at you. You want to ask the teacher a question, but you can’t because you are afraid you will sound stupid. You agonize over taking tests because you may not perform well. You dread reading out loud because you might pronounce something wrong or skip a word.

Avoiding Anxiety = Increasing Anxiety Making excuses to stay home – skip school or social events Calms short term anxiety; increases long term anxiety Hinders learning and overall growth Avoiding fears can become habitual behavior, which leads to further withdrawal, and increased anxiety

Treatment for Anxiety Psychotherapy Medications Talk therapy or Psychological Counseling – working with a therapist to reduce symptoms of anxiety Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – focuses on teaching specific skills to improve symptoms of anxiety and gradually return to the activities avoided because of anxiety Also includes: Exposure Therapy – gradually encounter the object or situation that triggers your anxiety; builds confidence to manage the situation and anxiety symptoms Play Therapy – focuses on understanding children’s play; utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems Medications Antidipressants Anti-anxiety medication

Tips for Parents Expectations of your child Build your child’s personal strength Letting your child learn to do things on his/her own Helping your child handle his/her own feelings Passing on your fears Working together as Parents Consequences

Questions/Thoughts

For more Information: Janine Guerrieri Parent Coordinator PS 3 Kathleen Conger, LMSW School Mental Health Consultant Office of School Health