Anxiety is a natural response to stress. Normal levels of stress are motivational but too much stress can lead to anxiety and physical sensations like increased heart rate, sensitivity to sound, 

more responsive reflexes and a heightened fight or flight response . At times of danger these responses are very important but if anxiety lingers it can become chronic, and is linked to stress related illnesses, panic attacks and anxiety disorders.

Because chronic stress and anxiety reduces our ability to think clearly it can be difficult for any of us to know when stress is actually making us ill. It can be particularly difficult for parents to know when adolescent struggles are signs of more severe anxiety. According to the UCD/Jigsaw ‘My World Survey’ 2012, 29% of males and 36% of females from 1st to 6th year in secondary school experience mild to severe anxiety. That’s one out of every three teenagers, and it is evident from this National Study of Youth Mental Health in Ireland that mental health difficulties emerged in early adolescence and peaked in the late teens and early 20s. Identifying anxiety and getting help early will help everyone to reduce the impact it has on work, exams, health and relationships. For this reason it is important to be aware of the hidden signs of anxiety.

7 signs of anxiety to look out for

•   Emotional changes like persistent worry, irritability, difficulty concentrating and unexplained outbursts.

•   Social changes like avoiding friends or extra curricular activities and spending increased time alone.

•   Physical changes like frequent headaches, migraines, unexplained aches and pains and excessive fatigue.

•   Change of eating habits, digestive problems, loss of appetite and nausea

•   Not feeling refreshed after sleeping. 13-18 yrs olds should get 8-10 hrs of sleep watch out for difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, vivid dreams, frequent nightmares and feeling wired yet tired.

•   Reduced school/work performance, all of the above can impact focus, memory, energy levels, motivation, ability to speak publicly and to do their best in exams.

•   Panic attacks, mild symptoms of panic include rapid heart rate, sweating and trembling, dizziness, numbness or tingling in arms and legs, upset stomach, difficulty breathing, easily startled and chest pain.

Parents are a great resource when included in their child’s recovery process. However caring for a child with health concerns can be very challenging and stressful for parents. Self care is very important, reach out and ask for support from friends or family you can rely on and make sure you have time for yourself.

Children are very sensitive to their mothers moods, so it is helpful for mothers to reduce stress as much as possible. If you are worried about the health of a loved one, talking in confidence can help you to problem solve and manage stress. If you don’t want to talk then therapies like auricular acupuncture and PsyTap can reduce stress and anxiety, improve energy levels and sleep.

If you would like more information on how you can support a loved one or if you would like support to recover from Trauma, Anxiety or Stress Amanda Roe uses a range of holistic therapies that help clients improve their mental, physical and emotional health. To Book a FREE 15 min Consultation with Amanda click here.