Anxiety Disorders - Warning Signs and Causality
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Today, a full 28 million people have anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, millions of them are children and adolescents. In fact, this diagnosis is occurring in children as young as three years old. As with most psychiatric disorders, the causes are many and quite individualized.
Warning signs exist as to whether a child may develop a future anxiety disorder. One is basic temperament. Extreme shyness may play a role in childhood or adolescent anxiety disorders, such as when a young girl is extremely reluctant to separate from parents or is inordinately shy around others or anxious in unfamiliar situations. Over time, this could segue into an actual anxiety disorder. Another red flag is the child who is very fretful and, as a result, does not achieve normal maturational milestones. For example, some children are afraid to sleep alone. As they age, these children usually grow out of it. But if this inability to sleep by themselves persists after about age 5 or 6, it moves from a normal childhood fear to a phobia. In fact, during ages six to eight, children usually grow less afraid of the dark and monsters lurking under the bed and in the closet. During this time, children usually shift their concerns to school performance and social relationships. Extreme anxiety regarding these areas should be considered a warning sign for the development of anxiety disorders.
Studies suggest a genetic link with anxiety, meaning that children or adolescents are more likely to have anxiety disorders if they have a parent with one. Parents with anxiety issues also role model anxiety to their children, further increasing the chances that their children will develop anxiety disorders.
The lifestyle in America is also a contributing factor. Years ago, there was so much more physical activity at home and school; children would run around at recess and play in the back yard after school. People walked more. Today, with computers, television, and cars, children are far more sedentary, which means they expend less energy in a healthy fashion. Exercise can reduce anxiety; in its absence, anxiety is more likely to increase. Also, the stress placed on young people regarding appearance and achievement is much higher than in years past.
What we do know is that anxiety disorders in the young are often triggered by life-changing events or extreme stressors. Entering middle school, or going from middle school to high school, are examples of such high-stress times. Considering that puberty, with all its physical and hormonal changes, occurs about this time, conditions would be ripe for a full-blown anxiety disorder to take hold.
Anxiety disorders are very real and can cause children and their families to experience a great deal of anguish. If you have a child, or know of an adolescent girl who is struggling with anxiety, please get help. For additional information or to find out about Remuda’s Anxiety Disorders Program, call 1-800-445-1900 today.
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2 years ago • Notes