Anxiety (anxiety) of the individual; It is the set of cognitive, physiological and behavioral reactions of the body when faced with threatening or frightening situations. Anxiety disorder is when anxiety manifests itself even though there is no danger, continues for a long time, and is felt very intensely. Today, anxiety disorders appear as one of the most common problems in child and adolescent psychiatry. Anxiety is an emotion that has a necessary and functional function like all other emotions. However, if this anxiety causes a disruption in the flow of life, expert support may be required.
Symptoms of anxiety can manifest themselves emotionally, cognitively, behaviorally and physically. Conditions such as fog of consciousness, inability to concentrate, thought blocks, difficulty in keeping control, fear of not being able to cope, fear of death, fear of being misjudged by others are cognitive symptoms, while situations such as fear, anxiety, feeling of dread, uneasiness, tension, irritability, helplessness are emotional symptoms. Situations such as running away, avoidance, restlessness, inability to stand still, freezing motionless, lack of coordination can cause behavioral symptoms and palpitations, increase or decrease in blood pressure, feeling of fainting/fainting, facial flushing, increased respiratory rate and depth, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, frequent Situations such as urination, sweating, and tremors can be given as examples of physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders in children usually manifest themselves with physical symptoms. Anxiety can also manifest itself as 'anger and aggression', especially in children who are not provided with the appropriate environment to express their emotions. Anxious children often want to stick to certain routines. Planning the day and being able to predict it has a function that relieves their anxiety. However, when their routine is disrupted for some reason, they may overreact and become restless.
When looking at anxiety disorders seen in children, generally; Separation anxiety, social anxiety, panic disorder, generalized anxiety and specific phobias are observed.
Generalized anxiety disorder is the child's constant and intense anxiety about many issues without a specific area. Children with generalized anxiety disorder usually: restless, They are anxious, nervous and easily angered children. These children; They experience constant, persistent and uncontrollable anxiety about their future, health, safety and performance. Some behavioral reactions such as outbursts of anger, not wanting to go to school, or difficulty concentrating are observed in children who experience such intense and constant anxiety. Children with generalized anxiety disorder can often exhibit a perfectionist approach. There may be a tendency to think too much about events. Thinking more about an event will reduce their risk of encountering unexpected things and they will be able to adopt a more relaxed attitude. In such cases, space should be made for the child's emotions, they should be talked about, and it should be shown that it is normal to feel such emotions. However, it should be understood at what points that emotion forces the child. To achieve this, parents need to be able to 'contain' the child and transform their emotions in some situations when the child is having difficulty. When these long-term transformations occur, the child will now gain the ability to regulate his own emotions and it will become easier for him to cope with negative emotions.
Separation anxiety is the child's fear of being separated from his caregiver. experiencing intense anxiety. They experience extreme anxiety that they or their caregivers may be harmed in the event of any separation. In case of separation from attachment figures (caregiver), they cause a group of emotional, cognitive, behavioral and somatic symptoms, and these negatively affect the child's enjoyment of life, social life, family relationships, functions at school and other areas. In children with separation anxiety; Not being able to separate from parents, not wanting to go to school, avoiding playing games at a friend's house or other places, and having nightmares with themes of separation, death, disappearance, or abduction are frequently observed. In case of separation anxiety of the child, a gradual and slow approach should be taken in order for this separation situation to occur more healthily. If necessary, the child should be allowed to have 'transitional objects (blanket, plush toy, etc.)' and the child should be helped to regulate his emotions. Especially school entrance students Winter hours should be explained in a way that the child can understand. For example; When the little bar reaches 5, making speeches such as 'I'll come and pick you up from here and we'll go home' gives the child the opportunity to further concretize something that is quite abstract in his mind and can balance the excessive expression of anxiety.
Specific phobias can also be called specific phobias. It is the child's intense anxiety about a specific object or situation and constantly avoiding encountering that situation/object. As a result of this fear, the child shows avoidance behaviors and experiences intense anxiety. This situation affects the child's functionality or causes him/her to experience intense distress regarding his/her fears. The child exhibits avoidance behaviors to reduce his anxiety due to his basic fear. In cases where avoidance is not possible, children; They may show reactions such as freezing, irritability, thumb sucking, clinging to parents or crying. Unlike adults, children often do not realize that it is excessive and meaningless. It is acceptable for a child to be afraid of certain objects in certain age ranges. As the child experiences some things about life, a state of fear and anxiety may occur as the unknown of those things increases. These are part of normal development unless they impair functionality.
Social anxiety is the child's intense anxiety about being judged by other people in social environments. It is characterized by intense anxiety in social situations due to fear of being scrutinized, ridiculed, humiliated or embarrassed. In social phobia, the basis of fear is receiving negative criticism from others. Children with social anxiety often fear that others may find fault with them and worry that they will do/say something stupid or embarrassing. Somatic complaints such as facial flushing, sweating, rapid heartbeat, tremors, dry mouth, and dizziness are frequently observed. Unlike adults, a child with social anxiety may cry, throw a tantrum, hide behind his or her mother, or resist going to school when faced with a social situation. Classroom activities for a school-age child Situations such as avoiding participation in workshops and failing in presentations are frequently observed.
Panic disorder is a condition characterized by recurrent panic attacks that occur at unexpected moments, where the patient experiences fear of anticipation of subsequent attacks and exhibits avoidance behavior. is a disorder. Strong physiological symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, difficulty breathing, dizziness, nausea, sweating or chills; They experience panic attacks, which are a short-term, sudden and intense fear reaction accompanied by emotions such as fear, anxiety and helplessness.
Cognitive behavioral therapy and play therapy are frequently used in the treatment of anxiety disorders in children. However, if the therapist deems it necessary, the treatment process can be supported with medication.
Parents whose children have anxiety disorders also have a great responsibility. First of all, when they notice their children's concerns, they should not criticize them negatively, on the contrary, they should encourage them to express their feelings on this issue. Being able to talk about the child's feelings, share them and transform them is very valuable for the child. When the child sees that his emotions and feelings have an impact on the other party, he learns to live and share them in a healthier way. If they think that the anxiety their child experiences is serious, professional support should be sought.
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