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)