Growing up is full of emotions, both good and bad. Emotions are natural for the most part, except when they become excessive. It is easy for worry to escalate into anxiety. Worrying is a natural part of life; however, when it is exaggerated, it can become a concern. About 7.1% of children ages 3-17 have been determined to have anxiety, but many others go undiagnosed (Data and Statistics). As stress surrounding school, sports, and family piles on, anxiety can morph into depression in the teenage years. It is vital that anxious children are recognized and learn how to cope with anxiety to break the cycle. 

I read the book Anxious Kids Anxious Parents to gain more information. Both authors, Reid Wilson, and Lynn Lyons are licensed social workers and renowned specialists on the topic of anxiety. I also thought the information was presented in an appealing and sensible format. They presented anxiety in seven different “puzzle pieces” that help you to create a plan to confront anxiety by assembling these pieces into a puzzle. Throughout this essay, I will use a similar approach by presenting information that will hopefully shine a light on anxiety.

Read any medical website and it will explain in detail the different types of anxiety. The five most common disorders are generalized anxiety disorder, OCD, panic disorder, PTSD and social anxiety (Lyness). However, the book Anxious Kids Anxious Parents focuses on the similarities between these disorders to provide you with methods that work across all spectrums. Putting a name to your type of anxiety does nothing for you in terms of relief. However, by understanding how anxiety works in general, you are able to diminish its grip on you.

Though it is hard to distinguish between worry and anxiety, worry can be useful to an extent. The ability to feel worry gives us the fight or flight method, which is helpful in life-or-death situations. However, worry can easily morph into a more extreme and invasive form that is no longer useful to us. “When momentary hesitations become incessant worries, children become increasingly anxious and stop moving forward into life” (Wilson and Lyons 16). It begins to control certain aspects of your life and constant worrying becomes a cycle. As parents, it is hard to watch your child struggle, being trapped in such a cycle. Therefore, they must become aware of how some of their well-intentioned reinforcements might, in actuality, be harmful. Some general guidance methods include personalize and externalize, model confidence, narrate their world, allow distress and practice exposure (Coltrera). It is important as a parent to encourage anxious children to employ these methods.

Research has actually shown that one can be predisposed towards having anxiety. “Infants can come into this world with a genetic predisposition to be sensitive, emotional, fearful and high strung” (Wilson and Lyons 22). In other words, this means that certain personality traits can eventually morph into anxiety due to the perception and intake of the world around them. “Children born with such a high-reactive temperament - researchers also called it ‘behavioral inhibition’ - rarely outgrow this tendency” (Wilson and Lyons 22). In early research, the Molecular Psychiatry paper in May 2014  found research concluding that there still may be a link between our DNA code and the occurrence of OCD (Vann). Amy Przeworski, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the department of psychological sciences at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland stated: “Individuals inherit a predisposition to being an anxious person, [and] about 30 to 40 percent of the variability is related to genetic factors” (Vann). This means that though anxiety may not be passed from generation to generation, some are predisposed to having anxiety due to their personality traits and the traits of those they are around. Therefore, if a parent has anxiety, a child may develop it because of his or her exposure and learned interpretations from the parent. 

Anxiety is individualized, making it incredibly hard to subdue. Anxiety first presents itself by latching onto a certain topic. Parents focus on the content of the anxiety rather than recognizing it’s patterns. However, this only affirms the anxiety regarding the topic and gives reassurance - “Most parents do get caught up in the content trap. Even after they've learned about it, they find themselves answering content questions or giving information that temporarily relieves the worry” (Wilson and Lyons 79). 

Contrary to common perception, solving the problem that worry has attached itself to does nothing to interrupt the pattern “Solving a problem through reassurance is just another form of avoidance - a short-term fix that deals with a specific current problem but doesn't teach a skill your child can use to handle his pattern of worrying” (Wilson and Lyons 79). To alleviate worry, we must get to the root of the problems. Anxiety is a constant battle, and to focus on the topic of the worry is only furthering the grasp of anxiety. It is hard not to get caught up in the content trap and see beyond what worry has just latched on to. When we look beyond the content, this helps to predict patterns and understand triggers. One must employ useful methods in order to make a change going forward. Make it a habit of pointing out when worry is being controlling and reinforce the idea of talking back to worry (Wilson and Lyons 85). These methods will continue to be useful in keeping anxiety at bay. Skills you develop to interrupt the patterns of anxiety will be useful for a lifetime. 

Recognizing symptoms and patterns are key to understanding anxiety. Though anxiety is a mental disorder, physical symptoms can be display themselves when the worry becomes too much for the mind to handle. The body starts going into fight-or-flight and one will often experience headaches and stomaches without a medical reason (Wright). The headaches are known as tension headaches and nearly ½ of all Americans living with migraines also have anxiety (Raypole). When you are worried, you become stressed and tense your muscles, which can result in tension headaches. More outward symptoms include lack of appetite and sleep. In a recent study, 40% of patients referred to a cardiac outpatient unit were actually psychological rather than physical conditions (Wilson and Lyons 140). When anxiety starts to affect these aspects, it can take a toll on your well-being. This causes emotional changes that can result in crying, sensitivity and even panic attacks. Worry presents its presence through outbursts and mood changes that can be uncharacteristic. Though it may seem like a tantrum, the triggers and emotional, behavioral and physical signs could be telling a different story; anxiety. 

Anxiety is not only a cycle of constant worry but an indicator of depression later in life. Moreover, children with anxiety disorders often become teens who suffer from depression. Many patients often seek out help for depression, when in fact they have been suffering from anxiety all along. Nearly ½ of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with anxiety (Facts and Statistics). Anxiety can even occur as a symptom of depression. Furthermore, in one study, 92% of depressed patients who had attempted suicide also were affected by severe anxiety (Tracy). This sad truth is one of the many reasons it is vital to recognize and go to counseling for anxiety. If left untreated, it can morph into a monster that is hard to overcome. 

When racking my brain for a current world issue, the topic of anxiety couldn’t help but come to mind. I find the topic interesting due to the psychology of it and the fact that it relates to me. I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was four years old and have struggled with it my entire life. It often overtakes my thoughts and drains me of my energy. However, through learning methods and using them, it helps me conquer my anxiety and it becomes easier and easier to confront it as time progresses. Anxiety is not an easy disorder, but with awareness and encouragement, we can only hope that children are able to overcome the mental disorder that can debilitate them. 

A method that I found unique was outwardly personifying anxiety. By doing this, it creates a separate person that I could talk to. This way, it’s easier to separate the disorder from one’s personality, which made it easier to confront. By externalizing your worry, you can view yourself as in a relationship with it. As the book phrased it, “Personify worry as an object outside of yourself. Attribute purpose and motivation to it. Perceive yourself in a relationship with your anxieties. Learn to hear and talk to your worry” (Wilson and Lyons 69). In confronting your anxiety, you can speak to it by anticipating its arrival or bossing it around. Creating forceful responses for when anxiety arises gives you a mantra and encourages you to talk to your worry. 

My hope with this paper was to raise awareness about anxiety and to teach that if you are suffering from it, you are not alone. Approximately 4.5 million children ages 3-17 in the United States suffer from anxiety (Data and Statistics). Through collaboration and communication, one can alleviate the obsessive worrying known as anxiety. However, only 6 in 10 children aged 3-17 receive treatment, so it is crucial to notice anxiety and take action (Data and Statistics). Anxiety is debilitating, and it is key to give anxious kids the tools to face the challenges of anxiety so they can grow into courageous and independent young adults. 

Works Cited

Coltrera, Francesca. "Anxiety in Children." Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard University, 14 Aug. 2018, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/anxiety-in-children-2018081414532. Accessed 28 Sept. 2019.

"Data and Statistics on Children's Mental Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 19 Apr. 2019, www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html. Accessed 1 Oct. 2019.

"Facts & Statistics." Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, 2018, adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics. Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

Lyness, D'Arcy. "Anxiety Disorders." Kids Health, Nemours, 2019, kidshealth.org/en/parents/anxiety-disorders.html. Accessed 5 Oct. 2019.

Raypole, Crystal. "Anxiety and Headaches: What's the Connection?" Healthline, Healthline Media, 6 May 2019, www.healthline.com/health/headache/anxiety-headaches#symptoms. Accessed 30 Sept. 2019.

Tracy, Natasha. "Relationship Between Depression and Anxiety." Healthy Place, 17 May 2019, www.healthyplace.com/depression/anxiety-and-depression/relationship-between-depression-and-anxiety. Accessed 8 Oct. 2019.

Vann, Madeline R. "Is Anxiety Hereditary?" Everyday Health, Everyday Health Group, 24 Aug. 2015, www.everydayhealth.com/news/is-anxiety-hereditary/. Accessed 3 Oct. 2019.

Wilson, Robert R., and Lynn Lyons. Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous & Independent Children. Deerfield Beach, Health Communications, 2013.

Wright, Lexi Walters. "Signs of Anxiety in Young Kids." Understood, Understood USA, 2019, www.understood.org/en/friends-feelings/managing-feelings/stress-anxiety/signs-your-young-child-might-be-struggling-with-anxiety. Accessed 23 Sept. 2019.