ABOUT ANXIETY
You are not alone!
​
Research has shown that 32% of adolescents have experienced severe anxiety in their lifetime. Anxiety can also be hereditary and environmental - if your parents are anxious they are more likely to unintentionally teach you how to avoid situations that cause anxiety. Sometimes anxiety disorders occur following a traumatic or stressful event.
​
There are several types of anxiety that adolescents may experience throughout their lifetime, all of which can be treated in similar ways....
​
(Boydston, French, & Varley, 2016)
​
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
Anxiety is the presence of lasting, excessive worries that are difficult to control. In order for someone to be diagnosed with anxiety, those worries need to persist for at least six months and one of the following additional symptoms need to be present: tense muscles, irritability, restlessness, fatigue, and problems sleeping.
​
Sound familiar?
Anxiety is different from typical worrying because it affects your ability to function properly in the world. Maybe you don't go to parties with friends. Maybe you have poor grades in school because your mind goes blank during a test. Maybe you worry about things that have little to no chance of happening like a tsunami sinking your parents cruise ship, for example.
​
​
​
All pictures courtesy of Wix.com
All pictures courtesy of Wix.com
COMMON TYPES OF ANXIETY IN ADOLESCENTS
GENERALIZED ANXIETY DISORDER
Excessive and uncontrollable worry about daily life and activities.
​
You are constantly worried about the worst case scenario occurring. This may lead to trouble sleeping, tense muscles, and an inability to focus.
SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
Excessive and persistent fear of social and performance based situations.
​
You are afraid of embarrassing yourself in front of others, always worrying about what others think, and avoid many social situations.
SPECIFIC
PHOBIAS
​
Intense and unreasonable fear of an object or situation.
​
You might feel physical sensations of fear, like a stomach ache, and you will likely avoid those objects or situations as much as possible.
​
PANIC
DISORDER
​
The experience of unexpected and repeated panic attacks.
A panic attack is extremely scary and has physiological symptoms such as sweating, dizziness, shortness of breath, tingling, and a racing heart.
​
OTHER CONDITIONS THAT CAN OCCUR WHEN ANXIETY IS PRESENT
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE
DISORDER
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
SELECTIVE
MUTISM
SEPARATION ANXIETY
DISORDER
A pattern of uncontrollable and unreasonable thoughts or fears (obsessions) that lead to repetitive behaviours (compulsions) that have a direct affect on your daily living and cause feelings of distress.
Anxiety that occurs following a traumatic event, either seeing it or experiencing it yourself.
​
You may experience flashbacks, nightmares, and uncontrollable thoughts about the event leading to high levels of anxiety.
Some children or adolescents refuse to speak in certain situations (like school), even if they will speak in other situations (like at home with trusted adults).
When a child or adolescent feels excessive anxiety over being separated from their parents or caregivers, which affects their ability to socialize with their peers.
Mayo Clinic (2019)