AnxietyInfants and children, of course, have little knowledge and less experience, and so can suffer terribly from attacks of anxiety. The newborn is dependant upon parents for comfort and total support - and is very sensitive to any hint that the support might not be completely forthcoming. The baby finds this very alarming, and communicates in the only way it can by crying. This distresses the parent, which distresses the baby, and increases the crying. Similarly toddlers who feel insecure respond by becoming clingy, which irritates the parent who resists the child’s approach and therefore increases the insecurity. The management of infant and toddler anxiety is to prevent it occurring by behaving as a safe haven at all times. The unfazed parent produces the settled and confident offspring. Anxiety in school children may manifest itself by complaints that they have abdominal pains, recurrent headaches or school refusal - especially if the underlying cause of the anxiety is a school problem. This needs careful and sympathetic exploration, if necessary involving the school. If the cause of the anxiety is domestic disturbance - and children are supremely sensitive to marital disharmony - then we might benefit from looking at our own behaviour. Adolescents have many sources of anxiety: the effects of the changes brought about by hormonal flux during puberty; their own self-image; concerns about the opinion of their peers; worries about their performance and difficulties with relationships being but a few. While, as with adults, some anxiety is a normal part of everyday life, when the symptoms of rapid heartbeat and butterflies in the stomach are present all the time, without a cause, and at a level so severe that they interfere with daily living, that the response is abnormal. This so-called `free-floating anxiety` can cause severe distress and itself cause further anxiety. The use of sedatives to reduce the symptoms is inappropriate: the cause of the anxiety should be sought. It might be wise to rule out the possibility of any underlying disorder such as an overactive thyroid gland. Over-indulgence in preparations containing large amounts of caffeine does not help those of us prone to anxiety. |
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