Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence

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Anxiety Disorder in Adolescence

• You can control your anxiety disorder, without it
  controlling you.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Panic Disorder
• Phobic Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
• Selective Mutism

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Causes its victims to constantly worry about
  daily event for no specific reason.
• Always anticipate the worst.
• Making each day miserable.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Usually affects children between the ages of 6
  and 11.
• Characterized by excessive worrying and anxiety
  over a variety of things
• Grades
• Family Issues
• Earthquakes
• Health
• Punctuality
• Performance In Sports

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GAD

• The child cannot control his/her worry
• It interferes with normal activities
• Physical symptoms include
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Muscle Tension
• Fatigue/ Inability to sleep
• Difficulty Concentrating

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Panic Disorder

• Panic Disorder is diagnosed when a child suffers
  at least two unexpected Panic Attacks
• Most common age of onset for Panic Disorder is
  the early to mid twenties
• Although not common in young children, it can
  begin in adolescence

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Panic Disorder

• A Panic Attack is defined as the abrupt onset of
  an episode of intense fear or discomfort
• Peaks in approximately 10 minutes
• Includes at least four of the following symptoms

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Symptoms of Panic Disorder

• A feeling of imminent danger or doom
• The need to escape
• Palpitations
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Shortness of breath or a smothering feeling
• A feeling of choking

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Phobic Disorder ( Phobias)

• Phobias are emotional and physical reactions to
  feared objects or situations.
• Phobias can interfere with your ability to work,
  socialize, and go about a daily routine.
• They may focus on something as common as germs,
  or they may arise whenever you venture from home

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Phobias

• "My heart starts beating so fast . . . it feels
  like its going to explode. My throat closes and
  I cant breathe. I start to choke. My hands start
  sweating. I get so dizzy I have to hold onto the
  furniture or the wall to keep from falling or
  fainting. I know Im going to die. I want to run,
  but I dont know where.
• www.psych.org

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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders(OCD)

• Characterized by uncontrollable impulse to
  certain activities, rituals, or make certain
  movements or sounds
• Cannot go through the day without acting out
  these impulses
• Shows characteristics of Tourettes Syndrome

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OCD

• Some common activities
• obsessive hand washing
• Non stop cleaning
• Re doing tasks already done
• Unable to past an area without touching something

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Post-Traumatic Disorder

• Recalling traumatizing events in the past
• Some even believe that they are re-living the
  event
• Objects or sounds cause the person to recall
  events

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Post-Traumatic Disorder

• Common Symptoms
• irritability or outbursts of anger
• emotional numbness
• sleep disturbances
• Usually diagnosed when symptoms occur for more
  than 1 Month

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Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)

• Usually diagnosed in the mid teens
• May be found in children in pre-school and grade
  school
• If not treated can persist in adulthood
• Could lead to depression and alcohol abuse

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SAD

• What to look for
• Fear of at least one social situation or
  performance situation
• Apparent fear when dealing with peers as well as
  when interacting with adults.
• Avoidance or intense dread of feared situations.
• Interference with school performance/attendance,
  the ability to socialize with peers or develop
  and maintain relationships.

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Selective Mutism

• Selective Mutism is a severe form of Social
  Anxiety Disorder
• Children fail to speak in situations where speech
  is expected or necessary
• This reluctance or failure to speak interferes
  with school and the ability to make friends
• Onset of Selective Mutism is usually before five
  years of age or when the child enters school

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Selective Mutism

• Children suffering from Selective Mutism may
• Stand motionless and expressionless
• Become anxious before entering an uncomfortable
  situation
• Display additional signs of moodiness,
  inflexibility, sleep problems and extreme shyness

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Selective Mutism

• Average age of diagnosis is between 4-8 years old
• For Selective Mutism to be diagnosed the behavior
  must persist for at least one month
• Dont be fooled, these children can be very
  talkative at home or in a place they feel
  comfortable

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Main Points
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Info From

• Information gathered from
• http//www.medicalreporter.health.org
• http//www.adaa.org