ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARNNL FEBRUARY 2017 TANYA PURCHASE RN, CPMHN

Transcription

1 ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ARNNL FEBRUARY 2017 TANYA PURCHASE RN, CPMHN

2 OBJECTIVES Prevalence of anxiety What is anxiety Normal anxieties How does it present Treatment Local resources

3 MENTAL ILLNESS FACTS FROM CANADA 1 in 5 Canadians (20%) will have a mental illness at some point in their life million children & youth (15%) are affected by mental illness at any given point in time 1 Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in children & youth (6.5%) 1 Of those children that need mental health services, 1 in 5 will receive it. 2 1 Quick Facts: Mental Illness & Addiction in Canada. Third Edition. Mood Disorders Society of Canada. Retrieved from 2

4 WHY THE INCREASE? Increased awareness about anxiety Lifestyles Lack of skill building World messages

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6 ANXIETY IS NORMAL Anxiety is a normal response to uncertainty, trouble, or feeling unprepared. Anxiety helps us to survive and it serves as a natural alarm system that tells us there is danger.

7 NORMAL ANXIETIES Stage Infancy Toddler Years Preschool / Kindergarten Elementary School Middle school High School Adulthood Focus of Anxiety Stanger, separation, noises Separation, anything sudden, intense or novel Large, harmful, dark or imaginary Dangers of the world Social/academic competence, natural dangers, death Shifts from external threats to internal worries Abstract, relationships, future

8 WARNING SIGNS: ANXIETY IS PROBLEMATIC Avoidance/absenteeism Excessive reassurance/calls home Excessive physical complaints Sleep disturbances Difficulty concentrating/attention Perfectionism or decline in grades Alcohol/drugs Withdrawal Poor coping

9 WHEN DOES ANXIETY BECOME A DISORDER? When it: occurs more often and intensely than that experienced by other youth of the same age (distress on all levels) Significantly disrupts daily functioning/causes impairment for the youth and their family involves a response to a situation that is developmentally inappropriate &/or disproportional to degree of threat or goes off when there is no real danger is persistent When a kid just can t be a kid!!!!

10 SO WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE? EXCESSIVE ANXIETY Frequent upset stomach / headaches Constant reassurance-seeking Crying before going to school Lashing out when worried Ruminating IMPAIRMENT IN FUNCTIONING Refusal to attend school Academic failure Mind goes blank when called on by teacher Isolated from family & friends Resistance to try new things

11 CAUSES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS Biological / temperament Brain Chemistry Life events and experiences Learned behaviors

12 ANXIETY DISORDERS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS Separation anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder Social anxiety disorder Panic disorder Selective mutism Specific phobias Post traumatic stress disorder Obsessive compulsive disorder

13 I HAVE ANXIETY THEREFORE I CAN T! Treating Anxiety = Facing your Fears

14 UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING ANXIETY

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17 VIDEO

18 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Education and awareness with families and youth

19 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Target the anxiety triad Body Identify and normalize Calm breathing Progressive muscle relaxation Sensory tools visualization

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21 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Target the anxiety triad Behaviors Awareness of avoidance Gradual exposure in facing fears Problem solving skills Rewards

22 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Target the anxiety triad Thoughts Identify thinking errors Challenge them be a detective Positive self talk

23 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Teach prevention Proper sleep, diet, treating physical illness and exercise increases ability to cope and problem solve Education about medications if prescribed waterwings New method of swallowing video

24 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Parent teaching and support Normalize anxiety & use age-appropriate language. Model brave behavior, good problem-solving skills, healthy stress management & selfcare (including relaxation). Model appropriate work/life balance. Have routines & structure in your family s life. Listen to your child, validate his/her fears Give your child practice being his/her own advocate in age-appropriate manner (he/she needs this practice to learn how to deal with the world). Limits on video gaming, social media & technology.

25 NURSING ROLE IN TREATMENT OF ANXIETY Parent teaching and support Ensure child has balanced eating, sleeping, social & extracurricular schedules/habits. When there are stressors you can t control, be mindful of how it is affecting your child & keep adult matters to adult audiences. Give appropriate consequences for negative behavior. Be consistent! Have realistic expectations & encourage small steps to mastery. This will help to build your child s self-confidence. nudge them one notch above comfort zone Awareness of: excessive reassurance, harsh punishment, being too directive or overprotective and permitting or encouraging avoidance Catch them being brave wall of courage Have FUN!

26 WHERE TO GET HELP

27 RESOURCES Central Intake for Child and Adolescent Mental Health and Addictions Eastern Health 5th Floor, Southcott Hall 100 Forest Road St. John s, NL A1E 1E5 Tel: (709) Complete referral form & fax it to Parents can refer their children/youths Youths (16-18) can self-refer GP referrals are required for psychiatry services

28 RESOURCES Strongest Families Program Toll Free:

29 RESOURCES EAP Programs Private insurance Mental Health Crisis Line (709) (local) or (888) (toll-free) Mobile Crisis Response Team (709) Emergency Room

30 WEBSITE RESOURCES

31 APP RESOURCES Bridge the gapp ( SAM APP ( What's up? ( Mindshift ( Breathe2relax (

32 BOOK RESOURCES

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