Anxiety is the emotion we experience when we anticipate danger. Anxiety can come from “real” threats, such as close-calls while driving a car, or from “potential” threats such as worry about an upcoming test that may or may not be difficult. Anxiety affects the body by starting the fight-flight-freeze response, affects the mind by focusing all thoughts on the threat, and affect behavior by often times encouraging avoidance of an anxiety-provoking stimuli.

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Symptoms of anxiety in children include: 

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• Feeling on-edge or agitated

• Difficulty concentrating, seemingly poor attention

• Consistent fatigue or irritability

• Extreme avoidance behaviors

 

Anxiety is a normal emotion that all children experience and is not problematic on its’ own. However, when anxiety impacts happiness, well-being, or a kids’ ability to accomplish goals it may be helpful to seek therapy. A therapist trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) may be helpful for children and families to understand and move on from anxiety that negatively impacts them. 

 

If you think your son is struggling with GAD please reach out to us to schedule an intake appointment!