CHILDHOOD ANXIETY

STATISTICS

~ There are currently 7.8 million anxious children in the United States making anxiety disorders the most prevalent mental health issue in our country. ~ The typical school-aged child reported more anxiety in the 1980’s than did psychiatric patients who were institutionalized in the 1950’s. ~ Anxiety disorders cost the country $42.3 billion each year in disability, hospitalizations and medical care.

WHY ARE WE SO ANXIOUS?

WHY ARE KIDS SO ANXIOUS?

A. MediaB. School StressC. Pressure from ParentsD. GeneticsE. TechnologyF. Overscheduling

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TYPES OF ANXIETY

Generalized Anxiety DisorderObsessive Compulsive DisorderPanic DisorderPost-traumatic Stress DisorderSeparation Anxiety DisorderSocial Anxiety DisorderSpecific Phobias

Generalized Anxiety DisorderObsessive Compulsive DisorderPanic DisorderPost-traumatic Stress DisorderSeparation Anxiety DisorderSocial Anxiety DisorderSpecific Phobias

TYPES OF ANXIETY

HOW CHILDREN PROCESS EMOTIONS

GENETICS

15-25% Lifetime Prevalence for Any Adult8-31% Risk with First Degree Relative8 y.o. Average Age of Onset

GENETICS

ONCE ANXIETY STARTS, IT’S HARD TO STOP

ANXIETY AND THE BRAIN

This is Where we Think.

This is Where our Fight or Flight is.

WHEN THE AMYGDALA TALKS . . .

WHEN THE AMYGDALA TALKS . . .

THEY ARE NOT LISTENING

AMYGDALA

TOOLS FOR ANXIETY

Duration

Duration Intensity

Duration Intensity Frequency

TOOLSTOOLS FOR KIDS

USING THE TOOLS

Tools Effective

Tools Effective

F L O O D

E

D

TOOL #1: CHANGE THE CHANNEL

TOOL #2: SQUARE BREATHING

Vs.

TOOL #3: BRAIN PLATE

School

Home

Friends Activities

TOOL #4: WORRY JAR

1. ACKNOWLEDGE THE FEELINGTOOL #5: NAME THE ANXIETY

WORKING WITH PARENTS

PARENTS NEED TO PROTECT KIDS FROM ANXIETY-PROVOKING EVENTS

KEEP IT KID-FRIENDLYKid-Level Topics Adult-Level TopicsSchool CollegeFriends MarriageFight on Playground WarAllowance FinancesReport Cards SAT

TOOLS FOR PARENTS

TOOL #1: THE FIVE-QUESTION RULE

TOOL #2: WORRY TIME

TOOL #3: STRUCTURE THE UNSTRUCTURED

TOOL #4: I DID IT! LIST

TOOL #5:TRACK ANXIETY

TALKING ABOUT MEDICATION

THE RULE OF THREE

THE RULE OF THREEHomeSchoolFriends

THIS IS WHAT MEDICATION IS NOT

THIS IS WHAT MEDICATION IS NOT