Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Many people feel anxious when there is no apparent reason. You may feel intense worry about your safety or the safety of your loved ones or feel like something bad is going to happen in general. These emotional and physical symptoms can cause significant stress in all areas of your life including your personal relationships, at work, or in social settings. It is normal for these worries to change from time to time and age.

Symptoms of Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

Children and Adolescents have similar worries to adults; however, they may have additional excess worries about a family members safety, their performance at school or at sporting events, being on time, or natural disasters-earthquakes or catastrophic events.
Children and adolescents with anxiety may:

• Lack confidence
• Seek approval
• Require a lot of reassurance about their performance at school or at sporting events
• Be a perfectionist and redo tasks
• Feel overly anxious to fit in
• Have frequent stomachaches
• Avoid social situations or going to school

Types of Anxiety Disorders

1. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Is characterized by excessive and persistent worry about everyday life. This worry can consume hours of your time each day, making it difficult for you to concentrate and complete daily tasks.

2. Social Anxiety Disorder

Is more than shyness and is driven by irrational worries about being negatively judged or rejected in a social or performance situation. You may feel like you don’t know what to say or worry about saying something stupid. Social anxiety can cause panic attacks if you have forced or anticipated social interactions.

3. Panic Disorder

Is characterized by sudden, intense, feelings of terror and panic attacks, often occurring multiple times and without warning. Panic attacks can occur even if you are not thinking about something specific. Symptoms of panic are often mistaken as a heart attack, because of the powerful physical symptoms that you may feel, including- shortness of breath, chest pain, feeling like your heart is racing, and dizziness. This can lead to frequently worrying about them reoccurring.

4. Separation anxiety disorder

Refers to excessive worries and fears about being separated from someone you love or from your home. This is also common in children and adolescents.

5. Phobias

Are strong, irrational fear reactions to a specific or anticipated situation, often a specific situation, place, animal, or object. Fear of heights or snakes is an example.

6. Agoraphobia

Is characterized by intense anxiety and fear of a situation where it may be difficult to escape. Agoraphobia may cause you to avoid leaving your house to avoid situations such as traveling in a car or airplane, being alone outside of your home, or being in a crowded area.

Other Anxiety Disorders include:

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Substance or medication induced anxiety disorder

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Janet Jackson

PMHNP