Anxiety is a universal experience that can be part of normal development. It can range from an alert to possible danger to a state of impaired functioning. The common characteristic is fear or worry about an event that has a real or imagined threat. It does not matter whether the fear is based on a real situation; if the person believes a threat exists, anxiety can occur. Therefore, any situation has the potential to produce anxiety. So how can you tell if your anxiety or the anxiety your child is experiencing is a normal part of everyday living or whether it has become a problem requiring intervention?
Here are a few warning signs:
• Constant seeking of reassurance about work or school performance, friendships, or upcoming events.
• Strong fear of dying or losing control.
• Worrying incessantly about appearance, clothing, behavior, possessions, or future events.
• Frequently seeking to stay home from school or work.
• Morbid fears of accidents or illnesses affecting himself or important others.
• Clinging to parents in public (among older children).
• Fear of being outside of home alone; being in a crowd; traveling in a moving vehicle.
• Crying or tantrums to avoid social situations with unfamiliar people.
Children and adults may exhibit excessive worry, fears, poor concentration, memory, attention, or problem solving; over sensitivity, nervousness, withdrawal, excessive talking, pacing, erratic or irrational behavior, aches and pains, nausea, vomiting, perspiration, tension, chest pain, headaches, stomachaches, diarrhea, restlessness, sleep disturbance, dizziness, trembling, extreme fatigue, or pounding heart as symptoms of anxiety.
Consultation with a physician should be the first step in treatment should you or your child experience severe or ongoing symptoms that cannot be otherwise explained.
For children and adolescents, the school can be an excellent source of support, especially when signs of stress or anxiety are exhibited at school. Professional counseling should be target-oriented and help the client to identify the worries, confront them, and work on ways to help them fade. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises and visual imagery can have a major impact on helping one to calm down when feeling stressed or in anticipation of impending stress. Is anxiety or stress affecting you or someone you love?
Ann Aronin Hausman is a Marriage and Family Therapist and an Educational Psychologist. For more information, please call 661-287-0124.