Our Health, Our Futures - Emotional Health

Age 16

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Francesca, Age 16
What is it?
Anxiety, a feeling that in many cases is confusing, is not necessarily a bad thing. One may feel anxious about a first day of a new school year. You could be excited about your classes, seeing your friends again, but at the same time have a fear of what might happen: will you slip and fall in the middle of the cafeteria? That is a form of anxiety, the combination of feelings that can freeze you in your place. One of the first things that a person has to know is that anxiety is normal. We all experience anxiety during our lives. Anxiety disorders are extremes of our every day feelings, they have gotten "out of control". Anxiety disorders or panic attacks are similar, but more severe. Anxiety disorders can range from panic disorders, post traumatic stress, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive, and general anxiety.

What are some of the symptoms?
The symptoms of anxiety disorders range from physical to mental to physiological. They could range form feeling that one is having a heart attack, to simply freezing, and not being able to react, and so on. Other symptoms for anxiety disorders, may be loss of sleep appetite, etc.
It could be helpful to define the differences between different types of anxiety disorders: (information taken from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxiety/idx_fax.htm )
Panic Disorder - Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as rape or other criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression and feeling angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled are common.
Phobias - Two major types of phobias are specific phobia and social phobia. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily. People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder - Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months. Almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.

What causes anxiety disorders?
At this moment in time the theories about what causes anxiety disorders are constantly changing, however there has been one theory that has come up over and over again: major trauma and/or stress. This sort of stress can come from a number of places, for example, death, financial difficulties, abuse, and natural disasters. Any sort of trauma or stress that causes the brain to be overwhelmed can create fear, of normal activities. It is also important to note that it may take months or years after a trauma for an anxiety disorder to come about. It might also be the unfortunate sudden build up of major stress. For example, being held up during a robbery and then finding that someone close to you has died.
Graphic, Anxiety
"Anxiety" by Francesca, Age 16

Some people suffering from an anxiety disorder might want to always help others to get through problems. In that case the person is taking on their own emotional load, as well as that of a friend, which then may cause an overwhelming amount of stress, finally leading to an anxiety disorder. People might not take care of themselves, or even hate themselves, as can be seen with some eating disorders.
Another possible factor in the cause of anxiety disorders is heredity mixed with learned behaviors, such us, how to deal with loss and new experiences. However it is important to clarify that although other people in your family might have panic attacks, they will not necessarily have a predisposition to a panic disorder which is more severe.
What can be done for treatment?
The treatment for anxiety disorders is usually a combination of medication and therapy; it is also suggested that people join a support group. Women especially can benefit from group therapy because they can listen to others share similar experiences. It is important for parents to become informed about the disorder, and be able to distinguish between normal nervousness/anxiety, and something more serious. Parents should look out for teens that show unfounded fears of normal activities as well as looking if that person has any of the other symptoms related with anxiety disorders. Going to a psychologist / therapist to diagnose and start therapy is a wise choice. Therapy may lead to the prescription of certain medications for anxiety. Anxiety disorders, using both therapy and medications can be successfully controlled. This includes getting help to cope with situations in new ways, for example, learning relaxation techniques, etc.
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Francesca, Age 16		What is it? Anxiety, a feeling that in many cases is confusing, is not necessarily a bad thing. One may feel anxious about a first day of a new school year. You could be excited about your classes, seeing your friends again, but at the same time have a fear of what might happen: will you slip and fall in the middle of the cafeteria? That is a form of anxiety, the combination of feelings that can freeze you in your place. One of the first things that a person has to know is that anxiety is normal. We all experience anxiety during our lives. Anxiety disorders are extremes of our every day feelings, they have gotten "out of control". Anxiety disorders or panic attacks are similar, but more severe. Anxiety disorders can range from panic disorders, post traumatic stress, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive, and general anxiety.
What are some of the symptoms? The symptoms of anxiety disorders range from physical to mental to physiological. They could range form feeling that one is having a heart attack, to simply freezing, and not being able to react, and so on. Other symptoms for anxiety disorders, may be loss of sleep appetite, etc. It could be helpful to define the differences between different types of anxiety disorders: (information taken from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/anxiety/anxiety/idx_fax.htm ) *Panic Disorder* - Repeated episodes of intense fear that strike often and without warning. Physical symptoms include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, abdominal distress, feelings of unreality, and fear of dying. *Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder* - Repeated, unwanted thoughts or compulsive behaviors that seem impossible to stop or control. *Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder* - Persistent symptoms that occur after experiencing a traumatic event such as rape or other criminal assault, war, child abuse, natural disasters or crashes. Nightmares, flashbacks, numbing of emotions, depression and feeling angry, irritable, distracted and being easily startled are common. *Phobias* - Two major types of phobias are specific phobia and social phobia. People with specific phobia experience extreme, disabling, and irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger; the fear leads to avoidance of objects or situations and can cause people to limit their lives unnecessarily. People with social phobia have an overwhelming and disabling fear of scrutiny, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations, which leads to avoidance of many potentially pleasurable and meaningful activities. *Generalized Anxiety Disorder* - Constant, exaggerated worrisome thoughts and tension about everyday routine life events and activities, lasting at least six months. Almost always anticipating the worst even though there is little reason to expect it; accompanied by physical symptoms, such as fatigue, trembling, muscle tension, headache, or nausea.