Anxiety: In Middle School aged Children By: Ben Schwartz Courtney Smith Lisa Bacevicius Stephanie Zentner

Definition of Anxiety The stress or uneasiness on the mind cause by fear of danger or misfortune. Anxiety symptoms and disorders are the number one health problem in America.

Types of Anxiety Generalized Anxiety Disorder Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Panic Disorder Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Social Phobia

Symptoms Physical –Headache –Nausea –Sweating –Raises blood pressure/ heart rate –Twitches/ muscle tension Emotional –Nervousness –Fear –Feels tense and Jumpy –Restlessness –Feeling like your mind has gone blank

Statistics Anxiety disorders affect 18% of the population in a given year. Women suffer from anxiety and stress almost twice as much as men. Anxiety disorders cost the US workplace 46.6 billion dollars annually.

Effects of Anxiety on the Body and Cognitive Abilities Forces a person to lose focus on daily work and instead toward their surroundings. The respiratory effects can cause one to hyperventilate. Causes loss of blood flow to smaller muscles. Adrenaline is released causing one to feel more paranoid. Causes insomnia. Causes one’s throat to tighten, making it difficult to swallow.

Anxiety Affecting a Child’s Development Children with anxiety tend to be more submissive and less socially outgoing than healthy children. Anxiety can lead to missed school days and inabilty to finish school. Anxiety can cause impaired relationships with peers and low self-esteem. Children are so afraid, worried, and uneasy that they are not able to function normally.

Suggestions for Preventing Anxiety Teachers must educate themselves on the topic. Teachers can make video presentations with fun, engaging sounds to get shy students excited and involved Teacher should guide student in deep breath and give them words of encouragement. Allow child time to play with stress ball and listen to music or engage calming activity Allow access to school nurse or social worker throughout the day.

Myths and Misconceptions of Anxiety Anxiety can cause death and is similar to Schizophrenia. You will have these symptoms forever. You are crazy. You must be heavily medicated. You are having a heart attack Marijuana is an excellent source. There is no one in the world that feels the same.

Educational References for Teachers Helpguide.org/mental/separation_anxiety_causes_prevention_treatment.ht m –Provides information about anxiety for teachers to become more familiar Studentsfirstproject.org/wp- content/uploads/AnxietyQuickFactSheetStrategies.pdf –Gives teachers ideas of classroom strategies for students with anxiety Adaa.org/living-with-anxiety/children/treatment –Provides information on treatment so teachers can understand what the student is going through Alprazolam.org/anxiety/anxiety-effects.html –Provides information for teachers to understand all aspects of anxiety in children. Conqueryouranxiety.org –Gives tips on to how to prevent anxiety attacks in the classroom.