2013 anxiety in children and youth.pptkprcontentlibrary.kprdsb.ca:8080/docushare/dsweb/get...anxiety...
TRANSCRIPT
Anxiety inChildren and Youth
Kawartha Pine Ridge District School BoardParent Conference on Mental Health
October 19, 2013Presented by: Christine Flindall, MSW, RSW
Overview
1. All About Anxiety• what is anxiety?• when is anxiety a problem?• diagnoses, prevalence, causes
2. How Parents Can Help • cognitive-behavioural therapy tools• unhelpful vs. helpful parental responses
3. Resources4. Questions
All About Anxiety
What is Anxiety?
an aroused state of alertness in response to perceived danger/threats
feelings of distress are typically accompanied by physical symptoms
When is Anxiety a Problem?
fears are a normal and natural part of life fears emerge and develop at specific times
in our lives no such thing as an “abnormal” fear children with anxiety problems have worries
that become extreme/intrusive anxiety becomes a problem when it
interferes with daily functioning
Common Diagnoses
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) specific phobias separation anxiety social anxietyobsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)panic disorderpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Prevalence
anxiety is the most common mental health concern for children and adolescents
particular disorders vary with age
Causes
no clear answeranxiety runs in families some parents react to anxious children
in an overly protective way some children model anxious
behaviours stressful life experiences can trigger
anxiety
How Parents Can Help
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy Tools
What is Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT)?
a psychological treatment developed through scientific research (“evidence-based”)
one of the most effective treatments for the management of anxiety
involves learning to change your thoughts and your actions
Education
Why is Education Important? the first step toward successfully
managing anxiety is to understand and recognize it
having accurate information about anxiety can reduce confusion, fear and shame
anxiety is a common and normal experience, and it can be managed successfully
What Children andYouth Should Know
The Factsanxiety is normalanxiety is adaptiveanxiety is not dangerousanxiety does not last foreveranxiety is mostly anonymous
Anxiety is Like a Smoke Alarm
A smoke alarm can help to protect us when there is an actual fire, but when a smoke alarm is too sensitive and goes off when there isn’t really a fire it is rather annoying.
Like a smoke alarm, anxiety is helpful and adaptive when it works right. But if it goes off when there is no real danger, it is not only scary, it is also very exhausting.
However, we DO NOT want to get rid of the alarm (or eliminate anxiety) because it protects us from danger. We want to fix it so it works properly for us.
(Source: www.anxietybc.com)
Body Awareness
The Cognitive Triangle
Unhelpful vs. Helpful Parental Responses to
Anxious Behaviour
Unhelpful Parental Responses
excessive reassurancebeing too directivepermitting or encouraging avoidancebecoming impatient with your child
Helpful Parental Responses
rewarding brave, non-anxious behaviourmodelling brave, non-anxious behaviour ignoring behaviours you don’t want preventing avoidance communicating empathy effectively prompting children to cope
constructively
Resources
Recommended Resources
For Parents and Children/Adolescents www.anxietybc.com Mind Over Mood (Greenberger & Padesky) Think Good - Feel Good (Stallard)For Parents Helping Your Anxious Child (Rapee, Spence,
Cobham & Wignall) Keys to Parenting Your Anxious Child
(Manassis)
Questions?