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![]() ![]() ![]() 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. |
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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. |
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![]() "Anxiety" by Francesca, Age 16 |
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