Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Teens
What is it?
While it’s completely normal to sometimes worry about things in your life, such as an upcoming test or an important social event, teenagers with generalized anxiety disorder worry constantly, sometimes for no apparent reason. This anxiety can become overwhelming to the point that it is difficult to carry on with normal daily activities. If you spend the majority of your time feeling anxious and even have difficulty sleeping because of unrealistic fear and worry, you may have generalized anxiety disorder.
Who gets it?
Generalized anxiety disorder affects people of all ages, even children and teenagers. Girls are twice as likely as boys to experience generalized anxiety. If you have a family member who suffers from any type of anxiety disorder, you may be more likely to develop one also. Some people learn this behavior, especially when a parent or close family member tends to be a “worrier.”
What causes it?
You may develop generalized anxiety disorder if you experience some kind of psychological trauma, such as witnessing an act of violence or death of someone you love. Moving, changing schools, or divorce may also cause generalized anxiety. Sometimes a chemical imbalance in the brain cause problems with two neurotransmitters called dopamine and
serotonin. Neurotransmitters are the brains chemical message carriers, but sometimes their messages can’t get through because the nerve cells they talk to can’t answer for some reason. This causes an imbalance, and an imbalance of dopamine and serotonin can cause anxiety.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder range from feelings of being tense, constantly tired, afraid, and unable to make decisions, to feeling restless and irritable. You may also have physical symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomachache, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, chest pain, shaking, sweating, or muscle pain from being tense. Symptoms can cause you to miss school or avoid social activities.
How is it diagnosed?
Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed when symptoms are observed for six months or longer. Your doctor will perform a complete physical exam and may order tests to rule out other problems that could cause the same symptoms. If he or she feels you have generalized anxiety disorder, you’ll be referred to mental health specialist, usually a psychiatrist or psychologist.
What is the treatment?
Generalized anxiety disorder is very treatable. The psychiatrist or psychologist will ask you many questions, some of them even personal. The information you share will be between you and the specialist, and will only be used to help make you feel better. The most important part of therapy is talking. By talking with the psychologist or psychiatrist about what you makes you feel anxious, he or she can help you to understand and deal with the source of your anxiety. Your treatment may also include medication. The medications most commonly used are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
(SSRIs), because they correct the imbalance of the neurotransmitter
serotonin. You may not even need medication, but if you do, it will be started in very small doses until your doctor finds the dose that is right for you. Another important part of treatment is communication with your family and friends. While it’s normal to feel uncomfortable with or even embarrassed by your feelings, helping others to understand your anxiety will provide you with important support. Never try to treat the anxiety yourself with drugs or alcohol. While they may make you feel better, the feeling is only temporary. In fact, your anxiety will come back even stronger and the drugs and alcohol will lead to even more problems that will make the anxiety worse.
Self-care tips
While it is normal and even motivating to sometimes feel anxious, especially before a big test or in a dangerous situation, you should talk to your parents and see your doctor if you feel that anxiety is taking over your life. Don’t wait to ask for help. The earlier you treat your problem, the sooner you’ll start to feel better. You can help manage normal anxiety by concentrating on relaxing, taking a few deep breaths, and shifting your focus by thinking about something else.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
|
