anxiety
Definition & Research
Anxiety disorders share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioural disturbances. Fear is an emotional response or perceived imminent threat, and anxiety is anticipation of a future or past threat. Anxiety disorders differ from one another in the types of objects or situations that cause fear, anxiety, or avoidance behaviour. Anxiety disorders tend to be highly co-morbid with each other, however they can be differentiated. Anxiety disorders are characterized by their excessive nature. Many of the anxiety disorders develop in childhood and tend to persist if not treated. Most occur more frequently in females than in males (2:1 ratio).
Selective mutism is characterized by a consistent failure to speak in social situations in which there is an expectation to speak (like school) even though the individual speaks in other situations. Individuals with specific phobias are fearful or anxious about circumstances or situations. In social anxiety disorder (social phobia), the individual is anxious about or avoidant of social interactions (like meeting unfamiliar people). In panic disorder, the individual experiences recurrent unexpected panic attacks and is constantly worried about having more panic attacks, and changes their behaviour to avoid panic attacks.
The key features of generalized anxiety disorder are persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about various domains, including work and school performance, that the individual finds difficult to control. In addition, the individual experiences physical symptoms, including restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge; being easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating or mind going blank; irritability; muscle tension; and sleep disturbance.
Differential Diagnosis:
Anxiety is prevalent among children in their first 5-10 years of life simply because so much of what they are doing is new to them. They are vulnerable and weak, and dependent upon others for everything. Anxiety is highly co-morbid: 65-95% have more than one anxiety disorder.
Selective mutism is characterized by a consistent failure to speak in social situations in which there is an expectation to speak (like school) even though the individual speaks in other situations. Individuals with specific phobias are fearful or anxious about circumstances or situations. In social anxiety disorder (social phobia), the individual is anxious about or avoidant of social interactions (like meeting unfamiliar people). In panic disorder, the individual experiences recurrent unexpected panic attacks and is constantly worried about having more panic attacks, and changes their behaviour to avoid panic attacks.
The key features of generalized anxiety disorder are persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about various domains, including work and school performance, that the individual finds difficult to control. In addition, the individual experiences physical symptoms, including restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge; being easily fatigued; difficulty concentrating or mind going blank; irritability; muscle tension; and sleep disturbance.
Differential Diagnosis:
- Generalized anxiety disorder -social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder - posttraumatic stress disorder
- Agoraphobia - illness anxiety disorder
- Conduct disorder - bereavement
- Depressive and bipolar disorder - oppositional defiant disorder
- Psychotic disorder - personality disorders
Anxiety is prevalent among children in their first 5-10 years of life simply because so much of what they are doing is new to them. They are vulnerable and weak, and dependent upon others for everything. Anxiety is highly co-morbid: 65-95% have more than one anxiety disorder.
Behaviour
All of the following symptoms occur in excess.
- Worry (anticipatory)
- Avoidance
- Attention to threat
- Fast/sustained psychological arousal
- Psychosomatic complaints
- Difficulty in resting and going to sleep
- Shyness
- Social withdrawal
- Perfectionism
- Behavioural outbursts
- Anger
Strategies
Below is a list of categorized strategies that teachers can implement to help with anxiety management in the classroom. These strategies do not take much to implement but could mean a lot to students with anxiety, and would be beneficial to the class as a whole. Adopting mindfulness techniques and practices into the classroom could help to improve the entire classroom climate.
- Directly teach anxiety management and stress reduction strategies
- Teach labelling of feelings (ie green vs. red thoughts)
- Use literature and multimedia examples to teach anxiety management
- Positive reinforce improvements and efforts
- Speak calmly and concisely
- Use social stories
- Provide advance notice of changes
- Teach relaxation techniques (desensitization, visualization, deep breathing)
- Teach positive self talk
- Support concrete goal setting
- Provide written instructions with rubrics for assignments
- Provide choice of assignments
- Allow extra time
Resources
Teacher Resources
7 ways to help students who struggle with anxiety
This website provides educators with a few strategies to help students who struggle with anxiety in their classroom.
Anxiety Disorders
This resource provides a list of articles about anxiety disorders.
20 classroom interventions for Children with Anxiety Disorders
This resource provides a list of strategies for children with anxiety disorders.
Tips for teachers of Anxious Students
This resource provides teachers with a list of tips that they can implement in their classroom to help students with anxiety.
Anxiety in the classroom
This resource provides a description of anxiety and what it looks like in the classroom.
WorryWiseKids.org
This website provides resources and information about anxiety, and red flags for anxiety, as well as general information.
Anxiety Management
This website provides teachers with strategies for instruction, environment and assessment to help students with anxiety. It also provides resources.
This website provides educators with a few strategies to help students who struggle with anxiety in their classroom.
Anxiety Disorders
This resource provides a list of articles about anxiety disorders.
20 classroom interventions for Children with Anxiety Disorders
This resource provides a list of strategies for children with anxiety disorders.
Tips for teachers of Anxious Students
This resource provides teachers with a list of tips that they can implement in their classroom to help students with anxiety.
Anxiety in the classroom
This resource provides a description of anxiety and what it looks like in the classroom.
WorryWiseKids.org
This website provides resources and information about anxiety, and red flags for anxiety, as well as general information.
Anxiety Management
This website provides teachers with strategies for instruction, environment and assessment to help students with anxiety. It also provides resources.