Counselor's Corner
October 2022
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A Message from our Social Worker
Anxiety is a word that often gets thrown around when people feel stressed or nervous about a certain activity, event or situation. Anxiety is an actual mental health diagnosis that has a wide variety of symptoms and impacts on those who have been diagnosed. Anxiety in general is a feeling of nervousness, worry, or unease. It is a feeling that does not just go away and can even worsen if ignored. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (SDM-5) describes anxiety as excessive worry and apprehensive expectations that occur more days than not for a minimum of 6 months about a variety of activities or events such as work or school performance. There are several types of anxiety including generalized anxiety, specific phobias, panic disorders, and social anxiety disorder.
Risk factors for anxiety can vary greatly. They can be genetic or environmental and can appear different in each individual. Symptoms can also vary from person to person. Here are some common symptoms that someone might be struggling with anxiety.
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling irritable
Restlessness
Feeling tense or always on edge
Easily fatigued
Physical symptoms:
such as headache, nausea, muscle tension, sweating, increased heart rate, hyperventilating
Having difficulty with sleep
Difficulty controlling worry or unease or fear of impending danger or panic
If your child is displaying three or more of these symptoms for at least six months, it might be something to ask your doctor about. Or if you are unsure of where to ask for help, reach out to your school counselor or social worker. Anxiety can impact all areas of an individual’s life. It can cause distress in their relationships, their school day, their job, and can worsen if not addressed. Ignoring anxiety tends to make anxiety worse.
If you are looking for additional information, there are some great websites to review. A few are listed below:
National Institute of Mental Health