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    Anxiety Mapping for Kids: 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children
    Anxiety Mapping for Kids: 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children
    Anxiety Mapping for Kids: 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children
    Ebook168 pages2 hours

    Anxiety Mapping for Kids: 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children

    By Kim Keenan, MS, MSW, LCSW and Denise Urycki, R.Ph.

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    About this ebook

    More than just an occasional stomach ache or the common jitters, anxiety can impact a child's friendships, self esteem and school performance. Parents, caregivers, teachers and clinicians desiring effective tools in managing anxiety in their children can now find hope in Anxiety Mapping for Kids ~ 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBookBaby
    Release dateDec 1, 2013
    ISBN9781483514086
    Anxiety Mapping for Kids: 50 Keys to Managing Anxiety in Children

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      Book preview

      Anxiety Mapping for Kids - Kim Keenan, MS, MSW, LCSW

      management.

      Chapter 1. What is anxiety?

      Many studies claim that one in eight children suffer from a form of anxiety. Although some mild, anxious symptoms can actually help performance, moderate forms of anxiety can lead to school problems and attendance issues, health-related conditions, peer issues, and social avoidance.

      It is best to understand anxiety symptoms. The following is a list of the most common symptoms reported in children:

      Dizziness

      Rapid heart rate

      Chest pain

      Difficulty breathing

      Muscle tension

      Stomach upset

      Diarrhea

      Nausea or dry heaves

      Headache

      Stomachache

      Problems sleeping

      Irritability

      Temper tantrums

      Fears

      Avoidance of situations or places

      Feeling cold

      Shakiness

      Clinging behaviors

      Nightmares

      Crying

      Feeling out of control or crazy

      Feeling like something bad is going to happen

      Trouble swallowing

      Obsessive behaviors

      Hyperactivity

      New school year nervousness

      Although these are common anxiety symptoms, many of these symptoms can be indicators of other conditions as well. Be sure to check with your medical care provider to evaluate for other physical conditions. It is also possible that the child could be suffering from more than one condition.

      Anxiety issues in children are very common. According to U.S. demographics, anxiety is one of the most common mental conditions for people of all ages. Lifetime prevalence for mental health disorders among thirteen- to eighteen-year-olds, specifically anxiety, is identified in the graph below.

      With all that is known about anxiety, it still may be best to have a child evaluated by a psychologist, therapist, pediatrician, or child psychiatrist. Is it always necessary to have a child evaluated? No, but if there appear to be moderate to severe problems or disability caused by the condition, then a professional evaluation would be highly recommended.

      The best place to start is with a trusted pediatrician. If a further assessment is recommended, then the doctor can provide names of possible referral sources that come with experience in managing child anxiety.

      Of the symptoms most reported by children with anxiety, stomachache rules supreme. This can often look like gas, constipation, reflux, or heartburn. It is not uncommon for children to undergo many gastrointestinal tests prior to the diagnosis of anxiety. Why upset stomachs? To answer this question, it is important to understand the natural alarm system each person has in his or her body.

      Natural alarm system

      1. Start: Something frightening or alarming happens, such as being approached by a growling dog ready to attack.

      2. Fear produces adrenaline.

      3. The nervous system is stimulated.

      4. Extra energy is needed for flight or fight. Flight or fight is the body’s need to either leave the stressor, (such as running from the angry dog) or stay and fight (such as fighting off the dog as it attacks you).

      5. Action is taken, such as running away from the threatening dog.

      6. Fear decreases as you make your way down the street.

      An anxious child’s mind signals the body to start pumping adrenaline. Adrenaline is a chemical that the body naturally produces to supply energy for needed physical activity or protection. With this release of adrenaline, the mind explores, much like a searchlight, why the body feels the way it does. As opposed to a manageable alarm system, the anxious system will continue to run, causing a cycle to occur.

      Anxious child’s alarm system

      1. Start: The mind signals the body to produce adrenaline. This is a quiet action not felt by the body until the adrenaline runs high.

      2. Adrenaline causes anxious symptoms, such as heart palpitations and stomachache.

      3. The brain searches for reasons why the feelings are there, for example, the child is standing in the middle of a crowded store.

      4. Fear and helplessness grow with the symptoms.

      5. This all produces more adrenaline, which in turn heightens the anxiety, causing a vicious cycle.

      Chapter 2. Reasons for anxiety in children

      A certain level of nervousness regarding situations that are new and foreign is normal in all children. The first day of school, making new friends, and sleepovers are all things that may cause first-time jitters, but to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a child must meet certain criteria. If a child is suspected to be suffering from more than just average turmoil, a parent or guardian might inquire about obtaining a full assessment by a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. For a set of symptoms to meet the criteria of an anxiety disorder, the symptoms must affect a young person’s life in such a way that they delay or inhibit normal living.

      All people can become victims to an anxiety disorder; however, children often suffer from types of anxiety disorder most commonly known as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), separation anxiety, or phobias. Some slightly older children and teens report social phobias, panic attacks, and generalized anxiety disorder.

      All of these conditions and their specific criteria are identified in a professional manual. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–V) is the guide professionals use to arrive at a specific diagnosis that matches the reported symptoms; they can then provide treatment options best suited to that condition.

      Let’s explore some of the main reasons children suffer from anxiety.

      Genetics

      Much like kidney disease, heart conditions, diabetes, and other health problems, anxiety tends to run in families. Often, when a child is found struggling with anxiety, parents are asked if anyone else has a history of such a condition. This does not always mean that the family member was diagnosed and treated. Throughout much of our generational history, people did not seek help for, nor were they always diagnosed with, such conditions. Be aware that just inquiring as to history of anxiety disorders may not give you the information you are seeking. Ask about history of alcohol abuse, drug use, and depression—these issues have also been linked to anxiety.

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