Anxiety and youth 

We hear the word “anxiety” used all the time in different ways, but the Oxford Dictionary defines it as, “a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.” Some worry and nervousness is normal for a given situation. If you have a public speaking event or a big test or a wolverine is chasing you, it’s normal to feel some unease. But it can become a problem when you start to feel worried and nervous all the time, even when things are going ok, or when those make it hard to function in your daily life.  

There are different types of anxiety disorders. In kids and teenagers, the most common is generalized anxiety disorder, which is excessive anxiety and worry that is hard to control, impairs life functioning, and is associated with other symptoms such as irritability or muscle tension. There are also specific types of anxiety, such as social anxiety, separation anxiety, agoraphobia, and panic disorder.  

Other conditions can also co-exist with anxiety. About 25% of children with ADHD will also have an anxiety disorder. Substance use disorders also commonly co-occur with anxiety disorders, perhaps in part as youth seek to treat their symptoms, but in doing so, turn one challenge into two. Anxiety can also show up as a headache or a stomachache, or make you feel tired or restless. Sometimes it makes it hard to get to sleep or to school. 

The good news is there are lots of ways to treat anxiety. Some things can be done at home, like practicing relaxation techniques and really working to get enough sleep. Seeing a behavioral health provider can be so helpful to learn ways to combat anxiety. Sometimes, medications are beneficial as well. 

Feeling anxious all the time feels bad, but kids and teenagers don’t have to keep feeling that way. There are great ways to treat anxiety and get back to feeling awesome. 

For more information about anxiety in kids and adolescents, check out this YouTube video from the American Academy of Pediatrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5iD-tDbqig, or go to cdc.gov. 

You can make an appointment to be seen at the Southern Ute Health Center to talk about your child’s anxiety or anything else by calling 970-563-4581.