ANXIETY
Common emotional experience, but sometimes it can become overwhelming and interfere with daily life. Anxiety disorders involve a range of emotional, mental, and physical symptoms.
Children and adolescents may experience:
Common Symptoms
Excessive Worry
Constant worry about everyday things or future events, even if they are unlikely to happen.
Restlessness
Feeling on edge, having difficulty sitting still or relaxing.
Physical Symptoms
Complaints of stomach aches, headaches, muscle tension, or fatigue without medical cause.
Avoidance
Trying to avoid situations or places that trigger anxiety.
Irritability
Reacting strongly to small frustrations or changes.
Difficulty Concentrating
Finding it hard to focus due to worry.
Sleep Disturbances
Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or having nightmares related to anxiety.
Examples
School Anxiety
A child who's afraid of going to school due to worries about performance, social interactions, or separation from parents.
Social Anxiety
A teenager avoiding parties or gatherings because they fear being judged or embarrassed in front of others.
Specific Phobias
An adolescent being extremely afraid of specific things, like dogs, heights, or spiders, to the point where it affects their daily life
Panic Attacks
A teenager suddenly experiencing intense fear, heart racing, shortness of breath, and dizziness, often feeling like they're losing control.