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Anxiety Treatment
GUIDE
Worry, uneasiness, and nervousness are all symptoms of anxiety. If children fear something too much or are worried about a certain event all the time that interferes with their daily functions, then they may be dealing with clinical anxiety and our anxiety treatment guide can help.
The nervous system may be kept in a heightened state of fight, flight, or freeze due to compound stressors. When the nervous system is triggered by a combination of environmental, sensory, emotional, and physical stimulation, anxiety develops. As a result, children or teens will become uneasy physically and emotionally.
Some children and teens are aware of their triggers, but others aren't. Either way, anxiety can be very uncomfortable when activated.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Clinical Anxiety?
In clinical anxiety, negative or worrying thoughts and fears exceed what is normal and interfere with a child or teen’s day-to-day functioning. When overwhelmed, anxiety can cause kids and teens to focus on their fears and worries instead of being present and productive.
For example, rather than focusing on their studies and doing their homework, children may worry about their grades so much that they imagine receiving low marks. Their fear of getting low marks then takes over and they begin worrying about all of the negative consequences arising out of their low grades. This creates additional worries and negative thoughts and on and on it goes. Eventually, they will worry about something so far afield that it can be completely irrational and make no sense at all.
Change and social interactions are the most common triggers of anxiety, due to the risk of discomfort. During adolescence, teens undergo physical transformations and social changes at an accelerated rate.
As they enter high school, they must let go of childhood habits and take on more responsibilities, where they also face peer pressure and heartbreak for the first time. Students may feel anxious about academic success and peer relationships in response to their insecurities and fears.
What are the Types of Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety disorders affect adults and children in different ways. Knowing the signs of clinical anxiety will help kids and teens get the support they need. Anxiety disorders can begin in kids starting at the age of six. They encompass a fairly wide range of disorders, such as:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
As the most common anxiety disorder, GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive worrying about a lot of different things. Children and teens with this disorder expect the worst for no apparent reason, and their fearful thinking seems out of proportion with any actual risks.
The majority of those with this kind of anxiety worry about multiple things and show some physical symptoms, in addition to the emotional ones. Children and teens with GAD often recognize their worry does not make sense, but they can't control it.
Panic Disorder
Panic attacks are common among kids and teens with panic disorder. It is characterized by a sudden surge of anxiety and fear and may include one or more of the following symptoms:
- Racing, pounding heart, palpitations
- Shaking, trembling
- Chest pain/pressure
- Sensations of shortness of breath /difficulty breathing
- Sweating
- Tingling in hands or feet
- Nausea and upset stomach
The attacks are typically brief, lasting only a few minutes, and can occur at any time of the day or night. Major life stresses or having a comorbid condition make the attacks more likely to happen.
Anxiety and depression are often linked together because those who have it feel that they have no control over their lives. This line of thinking may lead to depression. Additionally, females are twice as likely as males to suffer from panic attacks.
Teenagers and children who fear losing control may change their behavior to avoid panic attacks, so be sure to watch out for avoidant behaviors.
Phobias
Phobias are extreme and irrational fears that are often accompanied by panic or anxiety. They are usually linked to a particular place, action, situation, or object. Phobias can be brought on by a frightening experience or trauma in the past.
People with phobias are aware that their fear is irrational, yet they are unable to control it, causing them to avoid such situations as much as possible.
What are the Statistics on Anxiety in Children?
In the US, approximately 3% of all children have an anxiety disorder. The average age of onset is 6 years old. Furthermore, estimates show that 31.9% of adolescents aged 13-18 have some type of anxiety disorder.
In the past 10 years, there has been increasing recognition of anxiety in young people by healthcare providers, including a 17% increase in anxiety disorder diagnosis. High school students today have more anxiety symptoms and are twice as likely to see a mental health professional compared to teens in the 1980s.
What are the Symptoms of Anxiety?
There is a difference between anxiety in children and anxiety in adults. Due to the fact that kids are unable to express their feelings in words, they exhibit more behavioral symptoms than more mature individuals. Most of the physical symptoms of anxiety displayed by children tend to wax and wane at different times.
Emotional and Behavioral Signs of Anxiety
- Excessive worry
- Trouble going or staying asleep
- Frequent nightmares
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Overly sensitive
- Cries easily and frequently
- Emotional lability (up and down emotionally)
- Anger or rage
- Long tantrums or meltdowns
- Lack of self-confidence
- Fearfulness
- Phobias
- Separation anxiety
- Constantly seeks approval
- Rituals, compulsions, obsessions
- Perfectionistic tendencies
- Rigidity
- Negative talk or a tendency to think the worst
- Sensory processing difficulties
- Social avoidance or difficulties
- Attention or focus problems
- Gets distracted by worrying thoughts
- Fear of speaking in public or to strangers
- Low frustration tolerance
- Frequent erasing of work
- Won’t turn in schoolwork
- Test anxiety
- Avoids new experiences
- Says, “No” all the time
- Worries about things in the future
- Hyperverbal looping of worries (e.g., saying “Why did she do that” over and over)
Physical Signs of Anxiety
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty relaxing
- Physical pain
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Red face in social situations
- Hives or skin conditions (unexplained)
- Hair loss (unexplained)
- Excessive sweating
- Holding of bladder or bowels
- Frequent urination
- Hyperactive behavior
- Sleep problems
How Anxiety is Diagnosed?
In order to receive an anxiety diagnosis, here are a few steps to follow:
- Check with your primary care provider to ensure that there are no other illnesses present. A blood test may also be requested by your healthcare provider.
- Do a self-assessment or get an assessment from teachers, parents, or school psychologists.
- Acquire an assessment by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist.
What else should be considered when diagnosing anxiety
It is common for anxiety to co-occur with other mental health disorders. Among them are:
- Depression
- ADHD
- Executive Functioning
- PANS/PANDAS
- OCD
It is important to note anxiety and OCD are different. While Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may start with anxiety, OCD is a separate clinical disorder. An OCD diagnosis incorporates unreasonable thoughts and fears (obsessions) that occur for an hour or more a day.
What Are the Causes of Anxiety?
Anxiety can result from a variety of issues related to stressors, medical issues, and genetics. Some of the causes of anxiety are:
- Stress
- Major life events
- Grief and and loss
- Family functioning and behaviors
- Genetics
- Other mental health disorders
- Neurodevelopmental issues
- Physical health conditions
- Trauma
- Your environment
- Drug and/or alcohol use
What Are the Treatments for Anxiety?
Types of Natural Therapies That Treat Anxiety
Neurofeedback
Many people are unaware of the effectiveness of neurofeedback training. Such feedback, when coupled with operant conditioning or reinforcement, it becomes a powerful technique for treating a variety of symptoms, including those associated with many different ailments.
Neurofeedback reinforces one’s subconscious's ability to change its behavior. Visual and auditory reinforcements are done through computers to change the brainwave and reinforce the subconscious.
As a result of measuring and reinforcing through neurofeedback, the brain learns to self-regulate. It also calms the nervous system, which effectively reduces or eliminates the symptoms. Any brain can be trained to perform better, regardless of its function or dysfunction.
PEMF
Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) boosts cell-to-cell communication to improve body functioning. In PEMF, cells are stimulated and microcurrents are generated along nerve pathways. A beneficial effect of these low frequency currents is the promotion of self-healing and wellness.
PEMF helps improve mental health in three ways.
- PEMF helps the body go into a relaxed parasympathetic state
- PEMF improves cellular communication
- PEMF improves detoxification and reduces inflammation
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is very effective for people with anxiety, especially when it comes to challenging faulty or negative thinking. When it comes to psychotherapy, a skilled therapist specializing in children and adolescents is essential.
Somatic Therapy
The goal of somatic therapy is to recognize and release tension that remains in the body after a stressful or traumatic event or chronic long-term stress. During a somatic therapy session, children and teens get to track their body sensations. Unlike talk therapy, somatic psychotherapy focuses on connecting with body sensations before engaging in deeper cognitive-behavioral work.
Through somatic therapy, the nervous system is reset so that stress, anxiety, pain, and trauma can be released without the child or teen having to be so activated. Here, children become aware of and learn to tolerate physical sensations, including bodily sensations that alert the client to become aware and in control rather than being activated.
During sessions, physical exercise, breathing techniques, movement, and voice work are used to create a window of tolerance. A variety of benefits can be gained from this type of therapy, including calming the nervous system and reframing or transforming negative experiences, whether they are current or from the past. Additionally, it increases concentration and reduces discomfort, strain, and stress.
Meditation
Mediation is so beneficial, especially for children. It is important for your child to learn how to connect to their body and how to ground themselves. Meditation can be challenging because people, especially children, struggle to quiet their minds and bodies.
Parents often believe that their child will never be able to sit still and meditate, but it is possible. Among the types of meditation that children and teens can do are mindfulness meditation, walking meditation, progressive relaxation, and yoga.
For example, progressive relaxation meditations help kids and teens calm their minds and bodies while understanding more about body sensations and using them to their benefit. On the other hand, during moving meditation, kids and teens become more mindful of their movements and are able to regulate them.
Play and Expressive Arts Therapy
During play therapy, toys are substituted for the child's words, while play is used as a form of communication. The purpose of play therapy is to help children express their thoughts and feelings when they lack the verbal skills to do so.
This therapy helps children develop adaptive behaviors and gain tools for self-regulation. It also improves their social skills, executive functioning, and emotional skills. The use of play and expressive arts therapy is highly effective in many cases, and a lot of quantitative and qualitative research has proven it.
EFT/Tapping
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) is a proven alternative healing technique for reducing stress and anxiety. At its core, this technique is based on a combination of ancient Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. It involves tapping along meridians and saying statements that disarm negative thoughts.
By tapping your face, head, and neck with your fingertips, you can reduce anxiety and stress by relaxing and focusing on a specific discomfort. A number of clinical trials around the world have demonstrated that EFT decreases the body's production of the stress hormone cortisol.
Mental health issues can easily develop as a result of compounded stressors. EFT is an excellent way to calm down school-age children experiencing classroom anxiety. It has been proven to reduce the symptoms of several mental health conditions similar to the way that psychiatric medications and talk therapy do.
Intermittent Fasting
So how does intermittent fasting help reduce anxiety? When intermittent fasting, the gut gets to remove toxins and heal itself. If the bacteria balance in your gut is compromised, the production and function of your brain’s neurotransmitters are affected. A healthy gut microbiome contributes to the production of neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin and dopamine, which are both necessary for optimum mental health and particularly for managing anxiety.
Additionally, better hormonal balance can be achieved through fasting. Fasting reduces one’s insulin levels, allowing the body to eventually tap into fat stores for energy. By using its fat stores, the body produces ketones that cross the blood-brain barrier, which helps improve brain functions.
Supplements
There are many medically reviewed dietary supplements, vitamins, nutrients, and herbs that provide natural anxiety support. One of the most popular natural anxiety remedies is magnesium. Magnesium helps metabolize food, synthesize fatty acids and proteins, transmit nerve impulses for better muscle and blood glucose control, and regulate blood pressure.
Other beneficial supplements for improving mental health are L-Theanine, GABA, EPA, Vitamin D, and Vitamin B. Some recommended herbs for anxiety include Ashwagandha, turmeric, chamomile, and milk thistle.
Getting Outside/Exercise
Research shows that being in nature and exercising helps the anxious and depressed brain in many ways. Most outdoor activities lift the spirit, body, and mind. Taking walks is an excellent way to set an intention for the day and to be mindful of your surroundings.
Regular exercise improves the flow of oxygen inside the body. When your kid engages in these activities, endorphins are released, which reduce pain and produce positive feelings in the brain.
The other benefits of regular exercise include a stronger heart, increased energy level, lower stress, lower blood pressure, reduced anxious thoughts and symptoms of depression, and better sleep, among others. Good examples of outdoor activities are running, walking, playing sports, and doing yoga.
What Should Parents Do to Help a Child with Anxiety Disorder?
It’s not easy to parent a child with anxiety, especially teens, as they tend to keep their fears and worries to themselves. If you suspect your child or teen has anxiety, here are some things you can do:
Follow the REPS Protocol™
The patented REPS Protocol™ helps kids and teens overcome anxiety, distress, panic, and other uncomfortable sensations and emotions. As parents, you should first apply these methods to yourself first because your child co-regulates with you. It’s very important that you take care of yourself to better care for your child.
- Resperate
It all starts with the breath. It regulates your autonomic nervous system and helps to keep you in a calm parasympathetic state.
- Envision
Seeing successful outcomes and in this case, seeing you and your child calm is critical.
- Positivity
Using positive language with kids not only reinforces their actions and makes it more likely that they will learn, it feels good for both of you.
- Stress Management
Ten minutes a day of stress management techniques is all we need.
Emphasize Coping Skills
It is important to use positive language when speaking to a child who has anxiety. Be sure to emphasize coping skills. Kids need as many tools as possible in today's stressful world, and learning healthy ways to manage stress is essential to their mental health.
Be a role model when it comes to managing stress. The greatest gift you can give your children is to show them how to lead and navigate through difficult times. Modeling stress management allows them to develop this skill on their own.
Focus on lifestyle changes and self-care to help them better cope with stress. This way, they will be able to handle far bigger things in life.
Seek Professional Help
Clinical anxiety can affect any child. Don't assume otherwise. A lot of parents think that their child cannot be clinically anxious because they live a good life and are loved and cared for. Anxiety can affect anyone, regardless of their age.
Anxiety disorders tend to develop at an early age, usually around six years old. It is common for kids to feel anxious, just as it is for adults. In fact, more and more children and teens are experiencing anxiety these days, making it almost a national crisis.
Just because you are an awesome parent and your child is doing well in school, it doesn’t mean that they don't have clinical anxiety. Seek help from a qualified psychologist or mental health professional if you suspect that your child is suffering from this condition.
Citations:
“Anxiety.” Medlineplus.gov, medlineplus.gov/anxiety.html#summary. Accessed 28 Sept. 2022.
Mayo Clinic. “Anxiety Disorders – Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961. Accessed 25 Sept. 2022.
“Medical Home Portal – Mental Health Screening for Children & Teens.” Www.medicalhomeportal.org, www.medicalhomeportal.org/clinical-practice/screening-and-prevention/mental-health-screening-for-children-and-teens. Accessed 26 Sept. 2022.
Messmer, K. (2019). Art and Play Therapy for Children with Anxiety. Undergraduate Honors College Theses 2016-. https://digitalcommons.liu.edu/post_honors_theses/73/
National Institute of Mental Health. “Anxiety Disorders.” Nih.gov, National Institute of Mental Health, 2019, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders. Accessed 28 Sept. 2022.
“NIMH» Any Anxiety Disorder.” Www.nimh.nih.gov, 2017, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder. Accessed 27 Sept. 2022.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to give health advice and it is recommended to consult with a physician before beginning any new wellness regime. *The effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment vary by patient and condition. Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, LLC does not guarantee certain results.
Always remember… “Calm Brain, Happy Family™”
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Social Anxiety Disorder
Shyness is not the only sign of social anxiety. In social anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, inferiority, embarrassment, humiliation, and depression are caused by the fear of being judged and evaluated negatively by others. The symptoms of social anxiety include nervousness and discomfort in nearly all social situations.
For example, young children may throw tantrums or cry during playdates or social events. On the other hand, teens with social anxiety avoid interactions with a group of unfamiliar people. These teens will not engage with other people as much as they should.