Anxiety is normal and healthy. When we’re presented with something dangerous in the world, our anxiety response protects us from danger. It makes us hyperaware and primed for action — the “fight or flight” response. Anxiety disorders arise when we develop out-of-proportion anxiety responses to things most of us cope with easily and that happen every day.
The core symptoms of anxiety are worry, difficulty tolerating uncertainty, an overactive response to perceived threats (including freezing) and avoidance. Some children avoid or become overly afraid of situations or objects that trigger fears, while others react with explosive fear and frustration. That behavior is often misread as anger or opposition. In youth with phobias or social anxiety disorder, their difficulties may be attributed to “shyness,” with few people recognizing the severe distress they experience. Many young people don’t realize that their overwhelming reactions may stem from a disorder that can be treated, rather than from a personal failing.
In the past 10 years, there has been increasing recognition of anxiety in young people by health care providers — one study found a 17% increase in anxiety disorder diagnosis.1 Teens and their parents are recognizing that anxiety disorders can be serious and they are beginning to advocate for treatment at a level that far surpasses care-seeking a generation ago. Anxiety is the number one cause for concern at college counseling services.2
[To download this report, go to https://www.cmhnetwork.org/wp-.../10/CMI_2018CMHR.pdf]
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