Anxiety inChildren and Youth

Kawartha Pine Ridge District School BoardParent Conference on Mental Health

October 19, 2013Presented by: Christine Flindall, MSW, RSW

Overview

1. All About Anxiety• what is anxiety?• when is anxiety a problem?• diagnoses, prevalence, causes

2. How Parents Can Help • cognitive-behavioural therapy tools• unhelpful vs. helpful parental responses

3. Resources4. Questions

All About Anxiety

What is Anxiety?

an aroused state of alertness in response to perceived danger/threats

feelings of distress are typically accompanied by physical symptoms

When is Anxiety a Problem?

fears are a normal and natural part of life fears emerge and develop at specific times

in our lives no such thing as an “abnormal” fear children with anxiety problems have worries

that become extreme/intrusive anxiety becomes a problem when it

interferes with daily functioning

Common Diagnoses

generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) specific phobias separation anxiety social anxietyobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)panic disorderpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Prevalence

anxiety is the most common mental health concern for children and adolescents

particular disorders vary with age

Causes

no clear answeranxiety runs in families some parents react to anxious children

in an overly protective way some children model anxious

behaviours stressful life experiences can trigger

anxiety

How Parents Can Help

Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Tools

What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?

a psychological treatment developed through scientific research (“evidence-based”)

one of the most effective treatments for the management of anxiety

involves learning to change your thoughts and your actions

Education

Why is Education Important? the first step toward successfully

managing anxiety is to understand and recognize it

having accurate information about anxiety can reduce confusion, fear and shame

anxiety is a common and normal experience, and it can be managed successfully

What Children andYouth Should Know

The Factsanxiety is normalanxiety is adaptiveanxiety is not dangerousanxiety does not last foreveranxiety is mostly anonymous

Anxiety is Like a Smoke Alarm

A smoke alarm can help to protect us when there is an actual fire, but when a smoke alarm is too sensitive and goes off when there isn’t really a fire it is rather annoying.

Like a smoke alarm, anxiety is helpful and adaptive when it works right. But if it goes off when there is no real danger, it is not only scary, it is also very exhausting.

However, we DO NOT want to get rid of the alarm (or eliminate anxiety) because it protects us from danger. We want to fix it so it works properly for us.

(Source: www.anxietybc.com)

Body Awareness

The Cognitive Triangle

Unhelpful vs. Helpful Parental Responses to

Anxious Behaviour

Unhelpful Parental Responses

excessive reassurancebeing too directivepermitting or encouraging avoidancebecoming impatient with your child

Helpful Parental Responses

rewarding brave, non-anxious behaviourmodelling brave, non-anxious behaviour ignoring behaviours you don’t want preventing avoidance communicating empathy effectively prompting children to cope

constructively

Resources

Recommended Resources

For Parents and Children/Adolescents www.anxietybc.com Mind Over Mood (Greenberger & Padesky) Think Good - Feel Good (Stallard)For Parents Helping Your Anxious Child (Rapee, Spence,

Cobham & Wignall) Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child

(Manassis)

Questions?