What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is a mix of physical sensations, thoughts, and feelings that make a person feel worried or afraid. Some of these physical feelings are a fast heartbeat, shallow breathing, tight muscles, trembling, or sweating.

All children and adolescents occasionally experience anxiety, and it’s a natural part of growing up. Young people may become anxious at times, for example, on their first day of school or before an exam, but they often calm down and feel better once they get used to their new environment or are able to complete the task. If their anxiety doesn’t go away and keeps coming back, it could be a sign of something more serious.

Anxiety can become a problem when a young person feels trapped or when things keep feeling too much, upsetting, or out of their control. If this type of worrying continues for an extended period of time, it can leave a young person exhausted and isolated, limiting their ability to do normal things. It can also make it hard for them to enjoy their everyday activities, concentrate on school or work, and interact with others.

If your child is suffering from anxiety, there are things you can do to help them, such as offering emotional support, working on practical strategies together, and locating appropriate professional help if necessary. Providing a safe and supportive environment is key to helping your child manage their anxiety.

What makes young people anxious?

Depending on the individual, a young person may experience anxiety for a variety of different reasons. If your child experiences uncontrollable levels of worry and fear, this is frequently a sign that something isn’t right in their life, and they require support to identify the issue. Common causes of anxiety in young people include bullying, physical or mental health issues, family life changes, or academic pressures. Sometimes, anxiety seems to come out of nowhere and has no obvious source. In this case, it is important to be aware of the warning signs in order to recognize when a young person might need help.

The following things can make some children and young people feel more anxious:

• experiencing lots of change in a short space of time, such as moving or another major life event
• having responsibilities that are beyond their age and development, for example caring for other people in their family
• being around someone who is very anxious, such as a parent
• struggling in school, including feeling overwhelmed by work, exams, or peer groups, as well as experiencing family stress over issues such as housing, money, and debt.
• going through distressing or traumatic experiences in which they do not feel safe, such as being bullied or witnessing or experiencing abuse

Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety has a negative impact on a young person’s body, thoughts, and feelings. They may also act differently and do things that make their anxiety worse in order to avoid or deal with it.

Physical symptoms:

• panic attacks, which can include having a racing heart, breathing very quickly, sweating, or shaking
• shallow or quick breathing, or feeling unable to breathe
• feeling nauseated or sick
• dry mouth
• sweating more than usual
• tense muscles
• weakness in the legs
• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, or needing to use the bathroom more than usual
• getting very hot
• having nervous tics or habits like picking at your nails, blinking too much, clearing your throat, or shaking your legs up and down

Thoughts and feelings:

• preoccupied by upsetting, scary or negative thoughts
  nervous, on edge, panicky or frightened
• feeling overwhelmed or out of control
• experiencing a sense of dread or an impending feeling of doom
• easily irritated by noises, smells, or sights
• worrying about being unable to cope with daily things like school, friendships, and being in groups or other social situations
• worrying so much that it is difficult to concentrate and/or sleep

Coping behaviors:

• withdrawing or isolating themselves—including not wanting to go to school, be in social or group situations, be away from parents or try new things
• repeating certain behaviors, actions, or rituals often called “obsessive compulsive behaviors”
• eating and sleeping more or less than usual
• self-harming
• substance abuse

Many young people show obvious signs of anxiety, but others may show more subtle signs that are easier to miss. Some people may be able to hide their anxiety completely and seem to be fine on the outside.

How to help your child when they are feeling anxious

When your child is experiencing intense anxiety, they may become fearful, agitated, or concerned about having a panic attack. The most important thing to do is to help them relax and feel safe.

How to help your child manage their anxiety

There are things you can do over time to help your child manage their anxiety and feel better when they are not feeling particularly anxious or panicked. Many of these strategies are aimed at helping your child understand themselves and discover what works best for them. The more confident they are in their ability to help themselves when things are difficult, the more they will believe in their ability to cope, which will help reduce feelings of panic.

There are many things that young people can do to help them deal with their anxiety and worries.

• Discover positive activities that you enjoy.
• Exercise regularly.
• Practice mindfulness through meditation, breathwork, or yoga.
• Keep yourself occupied, take a break, and reflect on how you’re feeling.
• Keep a journal to track your moods.
• Talk to other people you trust and remind yourself that you’re not alone; chances are someone you know suffers from anxiety or depression as well.