Anxiety: Symptoms and Tips
Anxiety Disorders are very common, treatable medical conditions. They often begin as a single event which presents like a normal part of growing up, a simple worry or fear of a one-time event. These can progress into a disorder with chronic and persistent characteristics that interfere with daily activities.
What are the symptoms of childhood and teen anxiety?
• Irritability, sleeplessness, jitteriness, headaches, stomachaches, withdraw from events or situations
• Increased clinginess or withdrawal
• Fear of separation
• Crying, screaming, panicking refusal to participate
• Exaggerated enthusiasm and smiles with tension
• Increased excuse making for not wanting to participate, for not doing homework or chores
• Increased feelings of illness
• Seek out peers to create a dependent relationship with
• Overly eager to please others
• School stress to engage, perform, and attend, often in association to a performance or test
• Difficulty making friends
• Substance use or abuse
Risk factors:
• Increasing fear which debilitates and limits life activities, and involvement
• Health issues: stomach, digestion, irritable bowel, heart, obsessive-compulsive rituals
• Safety issues: depression, substance abuse and addictions, self-harm, suicide ideation
What to do:
• Provide reassurance that they are safe and respond with empathy
• Contact your school counselor and or nurse
• Seek support and assistance (You’re not alone)