Gain an understanding of how anxiety works

Gain an understanding of how anxiety works

• Gain an understanding of how anxiety works

• causes
• contributing factors

• Gain an understanding of how anxiety looks

• signs
• Symptoms

• Gain an understanding of how to help

• supporting kids
• supporting yourself

Any situation (positive or negative) that requires adjustment or change

• Any situation (positive or negative) that requires adjustment or change

• Comes from pressures we experience in life

• Adrenal gland releases adrenaline

• There’s not always an extreme reaction

• Some appear to thrive under stressful situations

• Chronic stress can lead to anxiety – too much, for too long, with too little help

Lots of pressures on kids today

• Lots of pressures on kids today

• The majority of stress stems from external situations

• Able to be prioritized and handled one at a time

• Associated with frustration and nervousness

• What is stressful to one person might not be stressful to another

• Common fears in children/adolescents handout

Review handout: Sources of Stress in Children

• Review handout: Sources of Stress in Children

• With a partner:

• Identify and put in order the top 10 stressors for kids

“With stress, we know what’s worrying us, but with anxiety you become less aware of what you’re anxious about [in the moment] and the reaction comes the problem. You start to feel anxious about being anxious”

• “With stress, we know what’s worrying us, but with anxiety you become less aware of what you’re anxious about [in the moment] and the reaction comes the problem. You start to feel anxious about being anxious”

• Comes from a place of fear, unease, and worry

A state of apprehension or worry about a danger or threat that might occur

• A state of apprehension or worry about a danger or threat that might occur

• Brain based-fight/flight system is activated

• Sense of helplessness

• Many children know they are anxious

• Most common mental health problem of childhood and adolescence

• More girls than boys

Environmental – witnessing a traumatic event/having a traumatic experience/watching another child be scared

• Environmental – witnessing a traumatic event/having a traumatic experience/watching another child be scared

• During life changes/transitions-death in the family, illness, recent move, new school, birth of sibling, etc.

• Biological-genetic predisposition- studies have shown children are more likely to develop an anxiety disorder if their parents have anxiety disorders

Increase in crying

• Increase in crying

• Sleep issues, Increase in fatigue/easily tired

• Unwillingness to try/do activities, go to school, unwillingness to talk

• Nervous movements/twitches

• Increase in frustration

• Impatience

• Changes in eating patterns

• Child becomes clingy, impulsive, or distracted

• A meltdown!

A certain amount of anxiety is normal and is to be expected

• A certain amount of anxiety is normal and is to be expected

• Anxiety is a problem when it becomes a problem: too often, too strong, out of proportion

• It consistently interferes with daily life (school, grades, social activities, sleep, eating)

• Excessive amounts of anxiety, fear, nervousness, worry, dread

• Most common mental health condition

• Impacts people of all ages

Preoccupied

• Preoccupied

• Distracted

• Tense

• Always on alert, on guard

• Confused

• Scared, unprotected

• Overwhelmed – even by little things

• Lonley

• Embarrassed, ashamed, misunderstood

Kids may not have the language to talk about their experience

• Kids may not have the language to talk about their experience

• Kids and teens may act out emotions because they cannot hold them in

• Some show aggression/hostility due to agitation

• Others show depressive symptoms or exhibit attention (connection) seeking behaviors

• Stress/anxiety are frequently mistaken for defiance

Unfamiliar situations

• Unfamiliar situations

• Pressure to perform

• Different learning styles/intelligences

• Social life

• Bullying, teasing, violence

• Busyness

• Amount of homework

• The future

• Test anxiety

• School avoidance

Talk privately and tell them you notice something is bothering him/her

• Talk privately and tell them you notice something is bothering him/her

• Listen attentively/calmly to what is wrong

• Validate feelings & label them if appropriate

• Involve the child in the solution – help them brainstorm things that might help

• Be patient – just being there helps

Create a safe place to go with calming activities

• Create a safe place to go with calming activities

• Teach relaxation techniques

• Have realistic expectations: reward effort, not outcome

• Consistent, daily routines (post them)

• Play soothing music during downtime, homework, etc

• Incorporate exercise, stretching

• Sleep hygiene and eating habits

• Encourage connection with others (limits to screen time)

• Help find a hobby/outlet

• Challenge kids to think about what they can and cannot control

• When is therapy helpful?

Communicate with teachers and counselors

• Communicate with teachers and counselors

• Encourage attendance

• Consider making modifications

• Schedules

• Breaks

• Opportunities for movement

Smoking/drinking/drugs

• Smoking/drinking/drugs

• Bingeing on junk/comfort food

• Zoning out through computer, TV

• Procrastinating

• Taking it out on others

• Other avoidant behavior - withdrawing from friends/family, sleeping, skipping school

• Using caffeine can make anxiety worse

Encourage communication

• Encourage communication

• Listen and be available

• Collaborate together to develop solutions

• Validate their experience

• Don’t minimize

• Make it important

• Be mindful of actions when dealing with your own stress

Kids & Teens learn to handle stress from parents/adults in their lives.

• Kids & Teens learn to handle stress from parents/adults in their lives.

• What are we teaching them about healthy and successful ways to handle stress?

• How do we schedule our lives and take care of ourselves?

The difference between anxiety and stress

• The difference between anxiety and stress

• Sources of stress for children

• Signs and symptoms of anxiety

• Anxiety disorders

• School stress

• Coping strategies

• Talking with your child

• Advocacy in the schools

• When additional support may be needed