Introduction to Common Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety in their lives. This leads the body to react and go into the mode of flight, freeze or fight
Anxiety in children becomes a Disorder when it persistently interferes with a child's life and ability to take part in everyday activities.
Anxiety is a complex interplay of several factors:
Biology
Psychology
Environment
Health
FACT:
•Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in children and adults, with one in seven children will struggling with an anxiety problem (Anxiety BC)
BUT:
•Less than one third will receive help
School based studies show that less than one third of children suffering from anxiety disorders receive help (Visions)
WHY ARE TEACHER’S NOT RESPONDING TO THIS PROBLEM?
•"Internalizing Disorder"
Anxiety Disorders are by definition "Internalizing Disorders", meaning that often suffer silently, withdrawing from the people around them who could not
•Attention Avoiding Behaviors
Children with anxiety disorders are often shy and inhibited in the classroom and resist talking to the teacher or asking for help.
•Quiet and Compliant
In a busy classroom, teachers are often distracted with the management of children with attention-getting behaviors and fail to notice of or take action for children who are not causing disruptions, and are completing most work (Visions). Often Anxiety isn't noticed till children's grades drop, or they start to miss classes (Anxiety BC)
Part of Regular Development
Teachers know that shyness and anxiety are an integral part of many stages of development in children, and are normal and expected in a number of situations.
• "Will grow out of it" mentality
Because we know anxiety and shyness re a normal part of childhood, we tend to see anxious or troubling behaviors as something children will grow out of. This is undoubtedly true in many cases. However, we've also tended to ignore, or think of as "temporary" many situations or behaviors serious enough to be classified as an anxiety disorder.
Possible Results:
• Absenteeism
• Poor school performance
• Avoidance of sports, extracurricular clubs, fieldtrips
• Trouble establishing and maintaining friendships
• Isolation
• Depression
• Adult mental health issues
• Substance Abuse
WHAT DOES THIS WEBSITE SEEK TO DO?
• As teachers, it is important for us to be able to recognize when behaviors are normal and expected, when behaviors require more careful attention, and when behaviors indicate that something is wrong.
• While the organization of our presentation makes it seem as if each type is a discrete and separate disorder, we want to draw your attention to the many areas of overlap in symptoms and behaviors, which is very characteristic of anxiety disorders, especially in children (Visions)
•Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern in children and adults, with one in seven children will struggling with an anxiety problem (Anxiety BC)
BUT:
•Less than one third will receive help
School based studies show that less than one third of children suffering from anxiety disorders receive help (Visions)
WHY ARE TEACHER’S NOT RESPONDING TO THIS PROBLEM?
•"Internalizing Disorder"
Anxiety Disorders are by definition "Internalizing Disorders", meaning that often suffer silently, withdrawing from the people around them who could not
•Attention Avoiding Behaviors
Children with anxiety disorders are often shy and inhibited in the classroom and resist talking to the teacher or asking for help.
•Quiet and Compliant
In a busy classroom, teachers are often distracted with the management of children with attention-getting behaviors and fail to notice of or take action for children who are not causing disruptions, and are completing most work (Visions). Often Anxiety isn't noticed till children's grades drop, or they start to miss classes (Anxiety BC)
Part of Regular Development
Teachers know that shyness and anxiety are an integral part of many stages of development in children, and are normal and expected in a number of situations.
• "Will grow out of it" mentality
Because we know anxiety and shyness re a normal part of childhood, we tend to see anxious or troubling behaviors as something children will grow out of. This is undoubtedly true in many cases. However, we've also tended to ignore, or think of as "temporary" many situations or behaviors serious enough to be classified as an anxiety disorder.
Possible Results:
• Absenteeism
• Poor school performance
• Avoidance of sports, extracurricular clubs, fieldtrips
• Trouble establishing and maintaining friendships
• Isolation
• Depression
• Adult mental health issues
• Substance Abuse
WHAT DOES THIS WEBSITE SEEK TO DO?
• As teachers, it is important for us to be able to recognize when behaviors are normal and expected, when behaviors require more careful attention, and when behaviors indicate that something is wrong.
• While the organization of our presentation makes it seem as if each type is a discrete and separate disorder, we want to draw your attention to the many areas of overlap in symptoms and behaviors, which is very characteristic of anxiety disorders, especially in children (Visions)
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