Does your child suffer from anxiety? By Sunny Volano, LPC
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nxiety is quite a buzzword these days. Some anxiety is, in fact, beneficial. It helps you show up to work or school on time, pushes you to reach goals, and it protects you from danger. Anxiety disorders in children have been on the rise, and the Covid-19 pandemic has increased the numbers dramatically.
I remember as a child running through the neighborhood until the street lights came on and staying up late to watch questionable TV programs while eating a microwave dinner. Most parents would cringe at that today. The more recent generations are careful. They make their own organic baby food, always have kids within sight, and protect them from anything that might create negative feelings. Could our helicopter parenting and organic/sheltered/everyone wins approach be contributing? Possibly. It is worth noting that everyone learns from mistakes and saving them from any embarrassment or anxiety prevents them from learning how to manage it. The rise in childhood anxiety cases also correlates with the rise in social media use and the smartphone era. This correlation cannot be ignored, especially when an increasing number of published studies show the negative impact of social media on our mental health. Smartphone applications are built to be addictive. Tech companies and app developers right now are designing tactics to keep users hooked. And what behavior is all this scrolling, posting and clicking replacing? Time spent with friends and family? Physical activity? Hobbies and passions? Teenagers across the world are living this experiment right now. Remember that limiting a child’s exposure to social media can be advantageous to their mental health. Social interactions are a valuable teaching tool. What kind of anxiety is typical? Being nervous about a new situation is completely normal and even protective. Life changes and transitions such as graduation or changing teachers are a time when it is natural to be anxious. Your child will need time to adjust and acclimate to any change. The first time they come in contact with a dog they might cower behind you, but it doesn’t mean they have a phobia. Being nervous about talking in front of a class is also pretty typical for a teen. It changes based on their developmental period. Nervousness might include: stomach ache, headache, fearful thoughts, avoidance or tearfulness. They should calm down with a little comfort and reassurance. The fear should subside and the more often they are exposed to it, they are desensitized. When should I worry it is more than typical? If your child is not comforted or the anxiety continues or even worsens, it may be time to try a different approach. The school nurse might tell you that your child frequents their office for headaches or stomach aches. You might have an increasingly difficult time getting them out of the door for school. You might have even seen a physical reaction such as ongoing nervous gestures, rapid breathing, uncontrollable tearfulness, or even a color change. When it begins to impact their ability to go to school, do things they enjoyed doing before, or complete regular activities such as sleeping or eating, it is time to seek another opinion. One of the most common things you will notice is their thinking patterns. A child with intense anxiety worries about things. Whether they obsessively have everything ready, organized and perfect, or they replay conversations or images in their heads over and over again. They might have trouble sleeping at night or eating regular meals. They might go to great lengths to avoid the thing they are worried about even if their actions do not make much logical sense. They might have trouble distinguishing what is illogical anxiety and what is truly a concern.
After struggling with anxiety as a teen, Mrs. Sunny Volano became a counselor so she could help others overcome anxiety. She received a masters in Counseling from UGA in 2010 and became fully licensed in 2013. While she treats all ages and a variety of concerns, Sunny specializes in children and young adults with anxiety disorders. She also serves as a counselor for Rabun Gap Nacoochee School. Mrs. Volano lives with her husband, two children, four goats, nine chickens and two dogs in Rabun Gap. In her free time, she enjoys being outside and trying to practice what she preaches about living holistically.
52 GML - June 2021
