Teen Anxiety
Katie Beekman
- Anxiety and depression are treatable, but 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder and 60 percent of kids with diagnosable depression are not getting treatment
- Anxiety is a normal part of childhood, and every child goes through phases. A phase is temporary and usually harmless.
- But children who suffer from an anxiety disorder experience fear, nervousness, and shyness, and they start to avoid places and activities.
- Anxiety disorders often co-occur with depression as well as eating disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and others.
- Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children.
- Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse.
- With treatment and support, you can learn how to successfully manage the symptoms of an anxiety disorder and depression and live a normal life.
Symptoms
- Physical symptoms. Headache, nausea, diarrhea, excessive sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, lightheadedness and feeling faint can all occur. Test anxiety can lead to a panic attack, which is the abrupt onset of intense fear or discomfort in which individuals may feel like they are unable to breathe or having a heart attack.
- Emotional symptoms. Feelings of anger, fear, helplessness and disappointment are common emotional responses to test anxiety.
- Behavioral/Cognitive symptoms. Difficulty concentrating, thinking negatively and comparing yourself to others are common symptoms of test anxiety.
National Mental Health Association Hotline
Mental Health America (MHA) – founded in 1909 – is the nation's leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.
Email: efields@mhacentralcarolinas.org
Website: http://www.nmha.org
Location: 3701 Latrobe Drive, Suite 140 Charlotte, NC 28211
Phone: 800-273-8255