There are many symptoms that go along with anxiety, some of which we occasionally find it difficult to discuss. Everyone senses the imminence of danger or an abrupt, threatening shift through stirrings of concern, fear, and alarm. Here are some early anxiety disorder kinds, causes, signs, and treatments.Since anxiety is an emotion and an external threat over which you have no control but an interior condition where you may learn to manage and grow from, it's crucial to understand that it can also manifest physically. To become the greatest leader you can be, you can learn to rely on your anxiety as a faithful partner. However, anxiety has many related symptoms, some of which might be challenging to discuss.
Everyone experiences anxiety, which alerts us to impending danger or a rapid, dangerous change through feelings of worry, dread, and alarm. However, anxiety can occasionally become an excessive, harmful reaction. Strong fears may surface at various stages of development, and many youngsters experience worry, fears, and even feelings of sadness and hopelessness.Even though worries and anxieties are common in kids, frequent or intense instances of these emotions may be signs of anxiety or depression. Because these disorders predominantly manifest as thoughts and feelings, they are sometimes referred to as internalising disorders. Preschoolers are now more likely to experience early age anxiety than they were before the Covid era since they were the most isolated and had the least exposure to the outside world.
Due to their terrible indoor confinement and lack of peer connection, many youngsters in this age range turned to their mobile gadgets for entertainment, which increased their screen time and impacted their overall skill development. Going to preschool or going out frequently exposes the youngster to the idea of social interaction, increasing their level of interaction with their environment.
Let's look at some warning signals to look out for when a kid, teen, or other person starts to feel worried and then see how we can address it at home.
Types:
Anxiety can have both hereditary and environmental causes, according to Dr. Suprakash Chaudhary, professor and head of the department of psychiatry at the Dr. DY Patil Medical College, Hospital, and Research Center in Pimpri, Pune. He emphasised that it is essential to acquire a clear diagnosis from a child psychiatrist or psychiatrist if the issue is serious or persistent. He lists the following as anxiety disorders:
- High levels of anxiety following a break from a person or location that gives one a sense of security or safety define separation anxiety disorder.
- Fear of being judged negatively by others in social circumstances or of embarrassing oneself in front of others is known as social anxiety.
- Selective mutism is a type of anxiety in which some kids are unable to talk in specific settings or situations, like school, despite the fact that they may have outstanding verbal communication abilities with known people.
- Phobia This is an unfounded dread of or avoidance of a specific thing or circumstance. Phobias differ from other anxiety disorders in that they have a known root cause.
- Panic Disorder They may experience frequent, strong anxiety attacks that come on suddenly and are accompanied by physical symptoms including palpitations, sweating, shaking, dizziness, and trouble breathing.
Causes:
According to Dr. Sameer Malhotra, Director and Head of the Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at the Max Multi Speciality Center in Panchsheel Park in Delhi, "A number of factors contribute to anxiety, including genetic predisposition, stressful family environments, alcohol dependence and impulse dyscontrol in the family, increased expression of emotions in the family, parental discord, emotional trauma, disintegrating support networks, high expectations, and occasionally over-provisions.
Symptoms:
Dr. Suprakash Chaudhary mentioned the following as the signs of anxiety in children:
1. Unable to sit still and feeling anxious and tense.
2. Constantly using the restroom.
3. Lack of concentration
4. Trouble falling asleep.
5. Regular night terrors
6. Unhealthy eating
7. Short-tempered and prone to outbursts of rage.
8. Frequently on the edge of tears
9. Constantly expressing complaints of gastric colic and stomach discomfort
Early age anxiety signals were identified by Aruna Agarwal, a child psychologist, behaviour analyst, Access Conscious practitioner, and owner of Kidzee - Mount Litera Zee School (Powai) as being:
- Children crying aloud Children withdrawing from friends and social groups or sobbing aloud in social or public settings.
- Speech impediment Anxious child behaviour such as crying, striking, being unfriendly, etc. And because the youngster has a speech impediment, it is impossible to express this to them verbally.
- Asking for a parent's attention when they are acting erratically, talking to someone on call, or being pestered for insignificant stuff. All of them are warning signs.
Dr. Sameer Malhotra added a few more symptoms to the list: cold sweaty palms, occasionally breathlessness, a feeling of chest discomfort, butterflies in the stomach, avoidance behaviours, restlessness, fidgetiness, usually speaking quickly and occasionally stammering, significant exam anxiety, fear of heights/flights/closed chambers/darkness, sleeplessness, feeling exhausted and helpless or occasionally irritable.
Dr. Tarun Sehgal, Director and Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Solh Wellness, contributed his experience to the topic by saying, "For some kids, anxiety becomes a chronic, high-pitched state, interfering with their ability to attend school and perform to their academic potential. It becomes challenging to engage in extracurricular activities, make and keep friends, and have a loving, flexible connection within the family. Occasionally, anxiety is restricted to vague, irrational emotions of unease. Other times, it turns into phobias and panic attacks. Teenagers frequently suffer anxiety, for instance, before exams or on the first day of school. Your child comes up to you and expresses concern. Because you occasionally feel anxious, you are unable to distinguish between differences in severity. You hope that a routine adjustment, such as entering a new school, is the cause of this. You believe that everything will work out on its own. Anxiety is frequently misinterpreted since it can occasionally manifest as a physical symptom like a stomach ache. Teenagers who frequently get stomachaches might not want to go to school. This could indicate that there is more to it.
He identified the following symptoms of anxiety:
1. Finding it difficult to focus or pay attention
2. Inability to sleep or nighttime awakenings brought on by terrible dreams
3. Unhealthy eating habits
4. Easily becoming agitated or irritated and losing control when doing so.
5. Constantly fretting or thinking negatively
6. Being restless or frequently needing the restroom
7. Constant crying
8. Being a griper
9. Having stomachaches and feeling under the weather
Dr. Tarun Sehgal emphasises that each adolescent experiences anxiety problems differently. "Even in the absence of a genuine threat, some youngsters experience feelings of constant anxiety, restlessness, or acute stress," he noted. Teenagers that are worried can come out as needy, aloof, or awkward in social situations. They can off as either being extremely passionate or overly repressed. They can be concerned with thoughts of slipping out of control or irrational worry about their social skills. Adolescent anxiety frequently revolves around issues with independence, social acceptance, and changes in how the adolescent's body feels and looks. Adolescents may appear incredibly bashful when they are overwhelmed with anxiety. They can refrain from doing their typical activities or reject trying something new. When they are separated from their buddies, they could object. Alternatively, they might engage in dangerous behaviours, drug experimentation, or impulsive sexual behaviour in an effort to allay or ignore their anxieties and worries.
Medications and cures:
Treatments will combine psychotherapy, behavioural therapy, and medication, according to Dr. Suprakash Chaudhary. The effects of alcoholism, depression, or other disorders can occasionally be so potent on mental health that treating an anxiety problem must be postponed until any underlying conditions are under control. More regularly discuss issues or anxieties with the youngster without mocking or making light of them. Ask about any issues at school, any staff or teacher anxiety, or any peer bullying.
- Child psychologist Aruna Agarwal stated that while some situations can be addressed at home with the straightforward fixes, do seek assistance from a paediatrician or child psychologist if the child's anxiety worsens over time. She advised doing the following cure.
- Don't overwhelm the client instead, start simple. Start simple and introduce the child to nearby kids or small groups like playgroups or societies.
- Talk more encourage the child to express himself or herself through language. Celebrate modest victories.
- Socialize frequently Bring the child to the home of a close friend or family, and make the host aware of the child beforehand.
For assistance, speak with a specialist, developmental paediatrician, or child psychologist.
Dr. Sameer Malhotra offered the following clinical advice when discussing how to control anxiety:
A) By making changes to one's lifestyle, such as eating balanced, healthy meals, encouraging a regular sleep–wake cycle, engaging in physical activity on a regular basis, and practising yoga. Other changes might include engaging in healthy, balanced parenting that allows children to occasionally hear "no," setting reasonable expectations, avoiding unhealthy comparisons and competitions, promoting healthy communication and expression, and controlling access to the Internet and mobile devices. fostering a spirit of sportsmanship.
B) Addressing any underlying thyroid issues.
C) Family counselling, behavioural therapy, and counselling
D) Medication based on accepted standards
Dr. Tarun Sehgal provided advice on how to deal with anxiety, stating that "healthy lifestyle choices can frequently help pre-teens and teenagers overcome anxiety. For instance, taking a stroll rather than sitting at home fretting can help them to unwind. He offered the following healthy options to assist you cope with regular anxiety:
1. Engage in a lot of physical exercise, get enough preteen or adolescent sleep, and consume wholesome foods and beverages.
2. Steer clear of narcotics, alcohol, and caffeine.
3. Avoid unneeded tension by not procrastinating or being tardy.
4. Practice mindfulness, muscular relaxation, or breathing exercises.
5. Consulting a specialist is a smart option if you're worried about anxiousness. Considering visiting a mental health specialist if you:
6. Is constantly tense, apprehensive, or on edge, and can't help but worry
7. Experience persistent anxiety for weeks, months, or even longer.
8. Experience anxiety that interferes with daily tasks, social interactions, and schooling.
There are actions you may do to minimise the severity of symptoms if someone has anxiety, even if it's impossible to predict exactly what will cause someone to acquire an anxiety condition. Medication, counselling, therapy, an active lifestyle, and numerous self-help techniques can all aid in reducing anxiety. The following are the therapies that Dr. Tarun Sehgal suggests:
1. Relaxation techniques Relaxation techniques can assist manage stress by lowering anxiety and negative thoughts. Deep belly breathing, meditation, relaxing music, and exercises like yoga and tai chi are all common ways to unwind.
2. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy CBT strategies are frequently successful in treating adolescent anxiety issues. These methods assist the adolescent in examining anxiety, identifying situations when it is likely to occur, and comprehending its repercussions. This can assist a child in identifying the exaggerated nature of their worries and developing a solution. The teen actively participates in cognitive-behavioural treatment, which tends to be tailored to the anxiety problem and usually deepens the young person's knowledge.
3. Additional Therapies In addition to ACT, long-term psychotherapy and family therapy may also be advised in some circumstances. It's critical to keep in mind that if you're dealing with anxiety, you may have a bright future with the right care. Your life doesn't have to be ruled by anxiety. A problem is easier to treat the earlier it is identified.
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