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Find Out if You or Your Child Have Anxiety or an Anxiety Disorder.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, “Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults.

Anxiety is a psychological, emotional and physical response to danger that the brain perceives.

Anxiety is a protective mechanism that has kept us safe since the beginning of time.

The term “fight or flight” is often associated with anxiety and was the choices our ancestors had when faced a dangerous situation. For example, they could either fight or flee when a wild animal was in sight. The fight or flight response brought on by anxiety can actually get our body ready for action and increase our performance and stamina.

You’d never want to “turn off” the fight or flight system because it’s useful and without it you may end up getting hurt. For example, it’s necessary when you’re standing on a roof of a building, driving, and so on.

So the real problem isn’t this system. It’s when this system “malfunctions” or “activates” when there is no real danger.

Unfortunately, why exactly this system malfunctions isn’t always clear but could be attributed to some of the following:

o Stress

o Poor coping skills

o Genetics

o Traumatic events

So How do you know if you have anxiety or an anxiety disorder?

Scared of spiders, snakes, or blood? Worried about major life events like having a child, taking a test, or getting a job? Stomach upset before doing a presentation?

Those feelings are a normal and healthy part of life.

Everyone differs in what causes them to feel anxious so how do you know if it’s an anxiety disorder?

First, identify the cause of the anxiety (ex. being late to work). Then assess whether the anxiety symptoms are a reasonable response to it. Feelings of worry, fear, unrealistic, extreme, or exaggerated thoughts that are interfering with your life and functioning could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.

People may not understand your “worry”. You may hear things like, “It’s not a big deal.” “Just let it go.” “It’ll be okay.” Unfortunately, you are NOT able to just let it go.

Anxiety disorders often times appear first in childhood. This is an ideal time to seek help for your child since children’s brains are still in the midst of developing and able to adapt to new ways of thinking.

What can anxiety look like?

o Unnecessary, ongoing worry and tension

o Increased heartbeat

o Trouble focusing

o Clammy hands

o Feelings of fear or panic

o Trouble sleeping or falling asleep

o Dizziness

o Irritable

o Restlessness “feeling on edge”

o An unrealistic view of problems

o Headaches

o Sweating

o Nausea

o frequent bathroom