Anxiety Disorder EVERY TOMORROW HAS TWO HANDLES. WE CAN TAKE HOLD OF IT WITH THE HANDLE OF ANXIETY OR THE HANDLE OF FAITH. HENRY WARD BEECHER

Agenda  What is anxiety  Causes of anxiety  Prevalence of Anxiety in society  Symptoms  Quick tips for when talking about anxiety

 Stigma

Definition of Anxiety  “Anxiety disorders are among the most debilitating psychological conditions experienced today. Millions of people worldwide struggle valiantly everyday to control worry, panic, fear, or dread but often the more they try to escape anxiety and it’s triggers, the worse it gets- and the narrower their lives become” (Clark & Beck, 2012)  Anxiety is a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying. These disorders affect how we how we feel and behave, and they can manifest real physical symptoms. Mild anxiety is vague and unsettling, while severe anxiety can be extremely debilitating, having serious impact on daily life.

Causes of Anxiety Anxiety is believed to result from a combination of factors, including changes in the brain and environmental stress.  Problems in the brain’s ‘wiring’ process that regulate fear and other emotions  Genetic influences- children of anxious parents are 7 times more likely to develop anxiety disorder  Environmental factors- trauma or significant event- severe life stress

Prevalence of Anxiety Disorder  Most prevalent mental illness affecting Canadians  12% or 1 in 4 Canadians will have at least one anxiety disorder in a lifetime  6% of children and youth require treatment  3.4% of Canadians experience serious and chronic levels of anxiety disorder  Women are twice as likely to be affected

Quick Tips about Anxiety When Talking to Students  Anxiety is normal! Everyone experiences anxiety at some point in their lives. Examples: before an exam, riding a roller coaster, taking an airplane. o Share some anxieties you might have? What “tricks” do you use? ► Anxiety is not dangerous! - Although it feels uncomfortable, it is temporary, and it will eventually decrease ► Anxiety is adaptive! Prepare for real danger, study for the big exam, triggers “fight-flight-freeze” ► Anxiety becomes a problem when your body reacts in the absence of real danger.

Symptoms  Feeling of panic  Problems sleeping  Cold or sweaty hands and or feet  Shortness of breath  Heart palpitations  An inability to keep still and calm  Dry mouth  Numbness  Muscle tension  Dizziness

How Anxiety Works  Children can experience anxiety in three ways Physical Feelings e.g Tummy ache, headache, heart racing Thoughts e.g "What if mom doesn't come home" Behaviours e.g. Finding mom, staying home from school