“What if everyone stands up and leaves when it’s my turn to sing on stage?”
“What if I trip on the playground and no one ever wants to be my friend again?”
“What if all the walls of my bedroom fall in on me?”
These may sound like normal childhood fears; every child experiences fears at some point. However, it is important to be able to spot when normal childhood fear has become overwhelming anxiety.
Generalized anxiety disorder sounds like a scary term, but breaking it down and understanding it will give you insight into how to cope with your child’s fears. So what is generalized anxiety disorder, what triggers it, and how is it treated? Let’s dive in.
What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is exactly what the name suggests. A person suffering from this disease doesn’t feel anxiety about one particular thing or situation in their life but instead feels excessive anxiety throughout their daily activities.
They are always worried about what could go wrong, but their fears seem irrational or out of proportion to the situation. The intense worry that they feel about everything often makes it difficult for them to go about their daily life in a normal way.
Other symptoms can include:
Difficulty making decisions
Restlessness or trouble concentrating
Fatigue or trouble sleeping
Crankiness or irritability
Muscle tensions and aches
Stomach upset, including nausea and diarrhoea
Headaches
About 2% of American adults suffer from generalized anxiety disorder; most of these individuals begin experiencing symptoms in childhood or adolescence.(2) The prevalence of GAD in children is estimated to be similar to adults at 2-4%.(4)
Worry and nervousness are a part of life. Every child will feel these emotions at some point. When the anxiety seems out of control or disproportionate to the situation is when there may be something more going on. You have the power to get them the help they need to manage their anxiety and fears.
What Triggers Child Anxiety?
Oftentimes, anxiety disorders are not caused for reason alone. The risk factors can include environmental factors, genetic influences, and biological factors. Someone with GAD may experience any number or combination of these risk factors.
Environmental factors that may trigger episodes of anxiety include:
Parental divorce or separation
Loss of a family member or friend
Living with an ill or disabled family member
Living with someone with an anxiety disorder
Living in a volatile home
Moving
Changing schools
Experiencing a traumatic event
Genes often play a role in the likelihood of a child developing an anxiety disorder. Many mental health professionals will assess the parents’ mental health when diagnosing a child, but family members beyond the parents could also be considered. Children can be predisposed to anxiety disorders if there is a history of anxiety disorders in their family.
Biological factors can also influence childhood anxiety. Imbalances of certain chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin and dopamine, can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression.(4)
How Can I Help My Child with Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
When your child is suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, it’s easy to feel helpless. Luckily there are many things that you can do to help your child.
Use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Strategies
Cognitive Behavioral therapy (CBT) is often the first strategy employed by mental health professionals when treating children with generalized anxiety disorder.
CBT works on helping children identify what their thought patterns are and how those thought patterns help or hurt them. They learn to recognize that how they think influences how they feel. CBT can be a useful tool to give children the power back over their anxiety.
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Priscillia Puppy Is Afraid of Everything! uses a specific technique in CBT, called Graded Exposure, to help your child manage their anxiety.
Graded Exposure helps children slowly and systematically face their fears and anxieties. The end goal is to help children learn to manage their anxiety and experience reduced symptoms.
As you read this story with your child, you will see Priscilla Puppy recognize her anxiety, use Graded Exposure, and be successful in managing her fears. Your child will learn how Graded Exposure could be applied to their fears and help them manage their anxiety.
Other Treatment Options
Treatment of generalized anxiety disorder should always be overseen by a mental health professional. Mental health treatment is not one size fits all. Having a professional on your child’s side is invaluable.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the gold standard for treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Especially, Graded Exposure Therapy, part of CBT, is a very effective treatment to reduce anxiety symptoms. CBT includes some of the following techniques and strategies:
Psychoeducation – Learning about their symptoms and the pattern they follow.(8)
Somatic management skills – Progressive muscle relaxation or diaphragmatic breathing to control the physical symptoms of anxiety.(5)
Cognitive restructuring – Learning to reshape maladaptive thoughts or cognitive distortions.(8)
The mental health professional will continue to use tools and methods to help your child until they find the ones that work best. Alternative treatment options for your child are Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapy or Psychodynamic Psychotherapy.(6)
Your child’s mental health professional may suggest anti-anxiety medications if all other routes have not improved their symptoms as much as is needed. SSRIs and SSNRIs can be an effective form of treatment for generalized anxiety disorder but should only be used as a last resort and under the careful watch of a psychiatrist or psychologist.(7) Oftentimes, medication will be used in tandem with therapy to give a child all the tools they need to overcome their anxiety.(6)
Generalized anxiety disorder can feel difficult to overcome as it permeates every part of a sufferer's day-to-day life. However, there are many effective treatments. Your child can learn to cope with their anxiety and live a normal life.
Pre-order Priscillia Puppy Is Afraid of Everything! here. To check out other books in the I’M AFRAID anxiety disorder series, visit: www.DrMadeleineVieira.com/books/imafraid
Would you like more information on childhood anxiety? Listen to my Genius Little Minds two-part podcast series on childhood anxiety disorders now! Click here for part 1 and click here for part 2.
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Resources
https://www.drmadeleinevieira.com/books/imafraid/generalizedanxietydisorder
https://www.med.upenn.edu/ctsa/general_anxiety_symptoms.html
https://www.childrenshospital.org/conditions/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad
https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/strategies-for-children-with-generalized-anxiety-disorder
Wehry, A. M., Beesdo-Baum, K., Hennelly, M. M., Connolly, S. D., & Strawn, J. R. (2015). Assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Current psychiatry reports, 17(7), 52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0591-z
Kodish, I., Rockhill, C., & Varley, C. (2011). Pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders in children and adolescents. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 13(4), 439–452. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2011.13.4/ikodish
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/psychotherapy-for-anxiety-disorders-in-children-and-adolescents