The Childhood Anxiety Epidemic, What Can We Do?

in #health7 years ago (edited)

It’s no surprise that children today are suffering more stress than a generation ago. As connectivity grows, so does the amount of stressors kids face daily.

Some blame the increase in anxiety disorders in children and teens to the post 911 era, with terrorism threats prevalent on television, and the increase of negative news pushed from the media.

Add to that increased parental and societal pressures and overloaded schedules, and you have a recipe for chaos in the fragile and already confusing developmental stage that is childhood and teenage years.

Anxiety underlies most behavioral issues and struggles in children and teens. This leads to the obvious answer- decrease anxiety in the child and increase good behavior.

Anxiety is not something to be taken lightly. Left unaddressed, it can lead to serious lifelong health problems such as chronic anxiety and heart disease. 25% of 13 to 18 year olds have mild to moderate anxiety, 6% suffer severe anxiety. Girls are more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, but this is probably due to the fact females are more likely to seek medical attention than males. The average age of being diagnosed with anxiety is 11 years old, and it often is accompanies with depression.

Growing and finding yourself is already a difficult journey for kids. Lets help them focus more on what’s important by helping them learn to ease their anxiety.

Physical Symptoms

  • Constant worry
  • muscle tension
  • physical weakness
  • upset stomach
  • lashing out
  • bad behavior
  • poor memory
  • sweaty hands
  • confusion
  • shortness of breath
  • heart palpations
  • poor concentration
  • too much or too little sleep

What You Can Do
As parents and teachers, it is our job to nurture and raise healthy children.

Understand
By understanding anxiety ourselves, we can recognize it in our kids and help. Stress is a normal part of life we all face to varying degrees every day, and the body's natural response to threats or danger.

Learning about the cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms of anxiety– such as the inability to concentrate, rapid heartbeat, short-temper, eating too much or not enough, nausea, a sense of loneliness – will make it easier for students to recognize the signs in themselves. This will empower them to seek support or advice and remain in control of their reality- which is a big thing for kids as so much is out of their control.

Let them know a bit of stress can be motivating by encouraging them to turn the energy into something positive and productive. Show them how to set realistic goals in their lives to help ease timely stress.

When a child sees that they can master things they thought was out of their control, even something as simple as setting a schedule for their day, it boosts their confidence. And alleviates stress.

Know The Facts and Kill the Stigma

Teaching the science behind mental health will diminish the stigma by showing the student that what they are experiencing is normal.

The brain goes through many changes during childhood and adolescence. Puberty is triggered by the release of kisspeptin into the body. This affects the amygdala which is the emotional center of the brain. This is what makes our feelings more intense, and why there's a sharp increase in emotional and impulsive actions during the teenage years.

Armed with the knowledge of the science behind this helps teens get past the negative reactions so they can start making responsible decisions with their prefrontal cortex.

Encourage Mistakes
The brain develops when we make and think about a mistake. It is an important part of the growing and learning process, but many kids are terrified of messing up. Let them know we all make mistakes, and it's ok.

Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness has numerous benefits for both adults and children.

There is a school in America which replaced detention with mindful meditation. It has showed an increase in good attendance and behavior.

Most importantly, be the change you wish to see.

We tend to put our children first first but in this fast paced world this can leave room to forget our own well-being. The best way we can teach our kids how to manage stress and anxiety is to show them by modelling positive behavior. They are always looking to us, even when you think they aren't.

Take a break, play around, spend time with your loved ones, be present, reflect on your mistakes and improve your life.

You are perfectly imperfect! Own it! Don't be afraid to share this with your children!

They cannot be what they cannot see :)

Images via Pixabay and Creative Commons

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another great post, from the one and only @arbitrarykitten

I got a fever, and the only prescription is a more kitten!

You totally and shamelessly receive my full upvote for this.

;)

Oops, it's only at 75% power, but it's the fullest upvote I am capable of ;)

:)

we all put our pants on one leg at a time the only difference when I do it, I make gold records.

Hope life is treating you right tonite. :)

Ha!

Yes, tonight is a beautiful one <3

Thank you. I hope yours is blessed :)

Thank @arbitrarykitten,
My night was a very good night also, know it is the morning because I went to bed over

my fever! lol
have an amazing day today for an amazing lady. :)

Cheers and God bless!!

Thank you Steve. I hope your Sunday is fantastic :)

It's still surprise me just how lots of people do not know about Atoractove Secrets despite the fact that lots of people completely eliminated their social anxiety problem with it. Thanks to my mate who told me about it. I've eliminated my social anxiety for good by using natural and fast ways.

Google it!

I'm definitely checking it out. Atoractove Secrets... Thanks for the info!

This comment has received a 0.03 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @banjo.

I believe the answer is simple. Stop setting such high expectations and let them be children. I watched my sister steal her son's childhood to live out her acting dreams. Did a number on him and never had a childhood. I'm sure there are many solutions, but that is one I seen a lot of before I changed cultures.

Oh my gosh yes. Just let them be kids. Stop over scheduling them with what you want them to do. Let them breathe.

I was about to write the same. As parents we should stop and think about their schedules. They work as many hours as an adult! Why asking so much? They don't need to be skilled in every sport or know every language. As teachers we should stop pressuring them to have excellent marks. We're creating can-do robots and not fulfilled people...

We are screwing up their little minds is what we are doing!

It's getting pretty bad out there...

I have to admit that I grew up as an anxious kid... and in the 1960's and early 1970's I was mostly told it was "nonsense." Which wasn't particularly helpful...and I can't remember any time in my life where I wasn't experiencing at least minor anxiety.

What's my point here? As part of this whole epidemic, the best thing we can do is teach coping skills... not dispense pharmaceuticals.

Applause Applause

Thank you= Yes. Stop the overprescibing of chemicals which only mask the symptoms.

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This post has received a 0.52 % upvote from @drotto thanks to: @banjo.

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Keep it up brilliant!

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Thank you so much!

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