We’re born worriers. Scientists believe that our brains have evolved a “negativity bias”, meaning we’re drawn to threats more than opportunities. We’re likely to detect negative information faster than positive information and generally have a background level of anxiety as our brain monitors the environment for possible threats. It’s in our genes. This negativity bias was helpful for our ancestors, as they lived in an extremely threatening environment. Some were prone to unnecessary worrying, and upon hearing a rustle in the bushes, might fear the worst and think something like, “Sabre-tooth tiger! Run!” As a result, they were more likely to survive and pass on their worry genes down to us (even though nine times out of 10 the noise was probably nothing more than a squirrel!). Then there were our other ancestors who didn’t worry as much, and assumed the rustling meant they’d found a squirrel for lunch. They might have got it right nine times out of 10, but the one time they got it wrong, they got it seriously wrong. So, they were less likely to pass their genes down to us than the worriers. Although the environment’s changed and we’re safer than ever before, our brains haven’t adapted and they’re still constantly on the lookout for threats and reasons to worry. Anxiety is the most common mental health problem facing children and adults in our country. As many as one in eight school children suffer from an anxiety disorder. Everyone experiences anxiety at one point or another; though it doesn’t feel good, anxiety is a response to a perceived threat that propels one to act by fleeing the threat or fighting it. In this way, anxiety is critical for survival.
Normal anxiety protects us from danger, is manageable, and limited to specific situations. With excessive anxiety, your child may be overestimating the threat of danger while underestimating her ability to deal with it. Physical symptoms of anxiety can include rapid heart-rate, muscle tension, difficulty sleeping and stomach aches. To avoid feeling anxious, your child may avoid situations that create anxiety, thus allowing her fear to control her. High anxiety is an exhausting mindset that takes a toll physically, emotionally, and mentally.
If your child is unable to control her worries, if her anxiety is out of proportion to situations, if it impairs her home, social or academic activities, if it causes physical discomfort, and has lasted one month or more, you may want to consult a psychotherapist for assessment and treatment. Many therapists utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) to treat anxiety. CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, behaviors and feelings. Such treatment might teach your child how to think more realistically about her worries, to confront and not avoid anxiety provoking situations, and to use relaxation skills.
Instead of increasing your child’s worries, provide her with the tools she needs to face her fears. Here are a few suggestions:
Treating Childhood and Adolescent Anxiety: A Guide for Caregivers, by Eli R. Lebowitz, Haim Omer Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, by Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.
Helping Your Child WIth Selective Mutism: Steps to Overcome a Fear of Speaking, by AE McHolm, CE Cunningham, MK Cobham
Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents, by RM Rapee, A Wignall, SH Spence & V Cobham
What to Do When You Worry Too Much, by Dawn Huebner, Ph.D. (an interactive self-help workbook for school-age children)
My Anxious Mind: A Teen's Guide to Managing Anxiety and Panic, by MA Tomkins & KA Martinez
Visit Magination Press (http://www.maginationpress.com/) for a wide variety of topic specific books recommended by the American Psychological Association.
Browse over 100 articles to help you manage your child's symptoms.
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The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or discontinuing an existing treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in these topics is intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment.
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