ANXIETY

Academic anxiety: There are many reasons that children, adolescents, and adults may feel anxious about academic environments or tasks. It could be related to a learning disorder, where feelings of incapability and frustration have lead to a fear of reading or math. Anxiety at school might also relate to the social atmosphere (see Social Anxiety below). Test anxiety is a common feeling, where students may feel their minds “go blank” when faced with the time and performance pressure of a test. These types of anxiety may result in refusing to go to school, and even feeling physically ill when faced with the idea of going to school or taking a test.

Social anxiety: May be diagnosed as a Social Anxiety Disorder (or Social Phobia), its essential feature is a substantial and persistent fear of social or performance situations. Individuals may experience a panic attack or avoid social situations altogether. Generally, people who experience social anxiety are concerned about feeling embarrassed or that people will judge them based on what they say or do.

General anxiety: Also known as Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is diagnosed in cases where excessive worry occurs for more days than not and is about a number of events or activities. The focus of the worry is not one specific situation or event, and the individual may not realize that their amount of worry exceeds what is typical. They might have difficulty concentrating on tasks at hand because anxious thoughts get in the way. People with GAD often worry about everyday things such as job tasks, health, possible dangers, being late. Children and adolescents may worry excessively about their performance at school or in sports, how their friends perceive them, or what the future holds.

Panic attack: A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort when there is no actual danger. The panic attack itself is not a disorder, but often occurs within another anxiety diagnosis. Recurrent panic attacks may mean the presence of Panic Disorder. The panic attack itself usually lasts 10 minutes or less and the individual may experience a number of physical and mental symptoms. They may feel shaking, heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, feeling of choking, nausea, chest pain, fear of dying, chills, or hot flushes. Usually these are accompanied by a sense of immediate danger and a need to escape.