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Neuropsychiatric Health Connections

Miroslaw J. Walo MD & Associates

Neuropsychiatric Health Connections

Miroslaw J. Walo MD & Associates

Anxiety

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Anxiety

Experiencing occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).

It’s often not clear as to why some people develop anxiety disorders, however, there are some commonly agreed causes. Life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to anxiety. Inherited traits also can be a factor.

There are various symptoms of anxiety; both psychological and physical including:

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense
  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
  • Having an increased heart rate
  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
  • Sweating
  • Trembling
  • Feeling weak or tired
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
  • Having difficulty controlling worry
  • Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20350961

 

Your worries may not go away on their own, and they may get worse over time if you don’t seek help

Children and Adolescents

If either biological parent has an anxiety disorder, either now or in the past, your child will be more likely to develop one as well. The age parental anxiety first started also has an impact on the likelihood of your child developing anxiety – the earlier you developed anxiety, the more likely your child will be to develop an anxiety disorder. Part of this may be due to genetic causes but it may also be due in part to upbringing. Children will often learn anxiety, fear or avoidance from anxious parents. Wittchen, HU.; et al (2000)

The structure of your child’s brain and how the chemical reactions function in each individual are also thought to play a role in whether or not a child will develop an anxiety disorder.
Of particular interest is the part of the brain called the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for our flight or fight response and studies have shown that children with an anxiety disorder often have hypersensitivity in this area. The structure of your child’s brain and how the chemical reactions function in each individual are also thought to play a role in whether or not a child will develop an anxiety disorder.  McClure, E.B. et al.; (2007)

Many studies have shown, perhaps unsurprisingly, that children who face adversity or difficult experiences in their childhood are more likely to go on to develop a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression as adults. Experiences such as acrimonious divorces, childhood abuse, trauma and death of a parent can deeply impact a child and leave them with difficult emotions that may impact on the rest of their lives. Seeking help and support early has been shown to be helpful in allowing children to work through difficult emotions and prevent the onset of further complications. Beesdo, K., et al (2009)