Anxiety – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Anxiety is a feeling of nervousness, apprehension, fear, or worry. Some fears and worries are justified, such as worry about a loved one or in anticipation of taking a quiz, test, or other examination. Problem anxiety interferes with the sufferer's ability to sleep or otherwise function.

It is noteworthy that teenagers are particularly susceptible to having irritability as a symptom of a number of emotional problems, including anxiety. Anxiety may occur without a cause, or it may occur based on a real situation but may be out of proportion to what would normally be expected. Severe anxiety can have a serious impact on daily life.

Stress and anxiety in children and teenagers are just as prevalent as in adults. Stressed out and negligent parents, high expectations in academic or other performances, abused or deprived childhood, growing up tensions and demand for familial responsibility are the main causes of childhood and teen stress. Parents, who are not emotionally available for their children or lack positive coping mechanisms themselves, often spur stress in their offspring.

What Causes Anxiety Disorder?
The exact cause of GAD is not fully known, but a number of factors—including genetics, brain chemistry and environmental stresses—appear to contribute to its development.

Genetics: Some research suggests that family history plays a part in increasing the likelihood that a person will develop GAD. This means that the tendency to develop GAD may be passed on in families.

Brain chemistry: GAD has been associated with abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are special chemical messengers that help move information from nerve cell to nerve cell. If the neurotransmitters are out of balance, messages cannot get through the brain properly. This can alter the way the brain reacts in certain situations, leading to anxiety.

Intestinal symptoms such as:
· diarrhea, nausea, stomachache
· Muscle tension, insomnia, headache, dizziness
· Crying or Tantrums
· Avoidance
· Freezing or Clinging

Treatment for Child Anxiety

Psychotherapy

The challenge for parents is to find a competent mental health professional and to create a structured life experience for their child that supports treatment and recovery over an extended period of time. A structured and therapeutic life experience is more powerful than individual counseling and psychotherapy. A well run group therapy can be equally effective. Programs and activities that build confidence are generally superior to "talk therapy" and intellectual approaches. The time required to treat these disorders can range for months to years.

Psychotherapy can be costly and many psychotherapists lack the experience of helping a wide range of sufferers which is vital if you are to provide seamless and experienced support.

Psychotherapy in isolation is not the solution. Most of our clients have been down this route and wasted time and money on a process which can go on for months and in some cases, many, many years. The Linden Method provides the most useful of the psychotherapeutic practices used by psychologists in an easy to read and use format, they form maybe 2% of The Linden Method content but are nevertheless important.

Natural Herbal Treatment

Herbal remedies such as valerian root and kava kava have been used to treat anxiety for many years. However, the effectiveness and safety of these products has not been well-documented. Keep in mind that some herbal remedies can make anxiety worse.

Keep in mind that some herbal remedies can make anxiety worse. Supplements may also interact with other prescription or over-the-counter drugs you are taking, so it’s important to check with your doctor first.