Anxiety Symptoms  

Anxiety symptoms in children and adolescents often look similar. Here are some common signs:

Mental Anxiety Symptoms

• – Feeling nervous or restless.
• – Having worries or fears that are hard to control and really get in the way of daily life.
• – Feeling like something bas is about to happen or having panic attacks.
• – Feeling weak and tired.

Behavioral Anxiety Symptoms

• – Having trouble focusing and thinking about anything other than worries or fears.
• – Avoiding situations, people, or objects that trigger anxiety, fear, or panic.
• – Struggling to make friends or interact with others.
• – Having trouble sleeping.

Physical Anxiety Symptoms

• – Tachycardia (fast heartbeat or heart palpitations).
• – Chest pain or feeling tightness in chest.
• – Breathing fast and feeling faint.
• – Sweating a lot.
• – Trembling or shaking.
• – Stomach problems like pain or diarrhea.
• – Poor appetite.
• – Headaches.

While anxiety disorders can start suddenly, they often stick around for a while, with symptoms coming and going. But that doesn’t mean things can’t get better with treatment! Most individuals with anxiety disorders can lead a “normal” life with the right help. 

Symptoms of a Panic Attack

In a panic attack you will experience sudden and extreme fear along with strong physical symptoms. These symptoms usually include a rapid heart rate, dizziness, sweating, sometimes also chest pain and nausea.

When to see Seek Help for Anxiety Symptoms

It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider if your worries and fears are getting in the way of your daily life, friendships, school, or work. Another sign to seek help is if you find it hard to control your fear and worry, which leads you to avoid certain situations or places and stops you from functioning normally. 

Also, please reach out if you’re dealing with other issues like alcohol or drug problems, or if you have other mental health concerns, including thoughts of hurting yourself.

Feeling anxious is typical during adolescence, but if it persists for weeks or months and feels overwhelming, seek help from a healthcare provider. They can assess your situation and offer support.

Finding Help For Anxiety

While it might be tempting to search online or in the yellow pages for help, it’s important to be cautious. Not all therapists are regulated, so almost anyone can call themselves a “therapist.” 

There are many types of mental health professionals who can help with anxiety disorders, which can make it confusing to know who to turn to for help. What to consider:

• Start by talking to your school nurse, school counselor, school psychologist, pediatrician, or general practitioner. Even if they can’t help you directly, they can connect you or provide you with a list of contacts to get you started.
• Mental health professionals who can provide diagnosis and treatment include:
  • Child and adolescent psychiatrists: These are licensed doctors with extra training in working with children, adolescents, and families. They can provide evaluations, treatment, and prescribe medication.
• • Psychologists: in most states these are licensed professionals who can provide evaluations and treatment.
  • Social workers: in most states these are licensed clinical social workers who can provide various forms of psychotherapy.

When choosing a mental health professional, look for someone with advanced training and experience in treating anxiety disorders, especially in children and adolescents. It’s important to find someone you feel comfortable with, so if you don’t feel a good fit with one person, don’t hesitate to look for someone else.