Anxiety

Anxiety is normal. Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time. It alerts us to threats, protects us from danger and helps us reach important goals. For example, it is normal to feel anxious when encountering a bear on a hike, or before taking an important exam.

Anxiety is not dangerous. Although anxiety feels uncomfortable, it is temporary and will eventually decrease. The sensations we experience in anxious situations are designed to alert and activate us. They are normal and part of our body's natural response mechanism. Our body is smart enough to know when to "amp up" and when to "calm down".

Anxiety is adaptive. Anxiety helps us prepare for real danger, such as crossing a busy street. It can also help us perform at our best, and motivate us to study for an exam or practice for a big game. When we experience anxiety, it triggers our "fight-flight-freeze" response, and prepares our body to react. For instance, our heart beats faster to pump blood to our muscles, so we have the energy to run away or fight off danger. Without it, we would not survive. We need some anxiety.

Anxiety is part of life. Trying to eliminate anxiety from your child's life is very nearly impossible. As a result, the recommended treatment is to help the parents of the child with anxiety reassure them that they can become experts on coping with anxiety. Since anxiety can be everywhere, one of the greatest gifts an anxious child can receive is developing the confidence and skill to tolerate anxiety whenever it occurs.

Anxiety can become a problem. Small doses of anxiety in certain situations are useful. However, when your child is worrying much of the time, avoiding fun activities, or refusing to go to school because they are scared or worried, anxiety may have become a problem. Think of anxiety like fog: if it covers everything, makes it hard to see, stops your child from doing what they usually do, and generally gets in the way, then it has likely become a problem. If you are concerned that your child is experiencing anxiety at this level, please contact your family doctor and reach out to your child's teacher or our Inclusive Education department to discuss some supports and strategies we can implement to help support your child.

-Source: Anxiety Canada website