1 / 42

Anxiety Session

Anxiety Session. BRIDGES Program Stephanie Mealey MSW, RSW Karen Mackey OT (R) NL. Anxiety. Statistics Vary…. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems, affecting approximately 1 in 10 people. (Canadian Mental Health Association)

aubrey-cash
Download Presentation

Anxiety Session

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Anxiety Session BRIDGES Program Stephanie Mealey MSW, RSW Karen Mackey OT (R) NL

  2. Anxiety Statistics Vary…. Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health problems, affecting approximately 1 in 10 people. (Canadian Mental Health Association) Most common, chronic costly emotional disorder in the US (NIMH) and in 10 -17 countries (WHO) Practice evidence-BY FAR the most common mental health referral to Central Intake

  3. Why the increase???? • Increased awareness about anxiety • Lifestyles “bigger…better…faster…smarter…” • Lack of skill building • (modeling, integrating, naturally occurring) • World Messages • Economy, illness, threats • Pathologizing normal stress

  4. Anxiety IS NORMAL • Anxiety is normal and needed. • It serves as a natural alarm system that tells us there is danger. • Some people have sensitive alarm systems. • It helps us survive!

  5. Anxiety – Not all Bad! Liabilities Higher levels of stress Personalizes Easily exploited Difficulty setting limits/saying no Excessive time spent doing or thinking about tasks Consumed by things Assets Cooperative Motivated/driven Thoughtful/reflective Organized Sensitive/Intuitive Loyal Creative

  6. Development of Anxiety Predisposition Biological sensitivity Personality Temperament Stress (good or bad) Learned Anxiety Lack of stress skills “Treadmill of life” ANXIETY!!

  7. Continuum of Anxiety Normal Anxiety Severe impairment due to Anxiety No Anxiety

  8. Common Anxieties 5 years - separation, dark, animals, “bad people” 6 years - separation, harsh weather, ghosts, dark, sleeping alone, bodily injury (all ages) 7-8 years - ghosts, dark, fears based on TV viewing, staying alone 9-12 years - tests, school performance, start of physical appearance, death 13-15 years - family and home issues, world concerns, preparation for the future, personal appearance, social relations Older - fear of isolation, natural events, sexual issues, economic issues, morality Taken from “The Worried Child.”

  9. Effects of Anxiety Physical Feelings (Body) Muscle tension Racing heart Belly pain Nausea Head ache Sweating Behavior Avoid/Escape/Flight Disruptive or pressured behavior/fight Freeze Seeking reassurance Thoughts (Brain) What if…? Thinking the worst

  10. Anxiety Reactions Flight Avoidance Tummy aches & pains Quitting Lying Fight Behavior Refusal Extreme persistence Perfectionism Self-imposed pressure Freeze • Indecision • Inaction

  11. When does it become a disorder... Distress or interference is much greater than anxiety experienced by other children of the same age When it interferes with daily functioning/causes impairment When it is persistent When accommodations are always necessary When a kid just can’t be a kid!!!!

  12. Why my child?

  13. The Perfect Storm The Teenage Brain Frontal lobe restructured self-control,judgment, emotional regulation The Perfect Storm Anxiety Predisposition, Temperament Biological Sensitivity Adolescent Stress Factors Drugs Social appraisal Belonging to a group Getting good grades

  14. Brain http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/view/

  15. Treatment Skill Building Learning skills to mastery symptoms Insight and Awareness Getting to know Anxiety Practice Facing Fears & Using skills

  16. Language we use… Mastering anxiety Getting in charge Turning the volume down Riding the wave Building emotional muscle Don’t Pathologize!

  17. BRAIN-Targets Beliefs about anxiety Racing thoughts “can’t turn the brain off” Negative self-talk Recurring thoughts or images

  18. Brain-Strategies Education about anxiety Awareness of factors influencing anxiety Highlight assets (powerful thinker) Awareness of Attention Examine & challenge thoughts Replace with more positive/realistic or less anxious self-talk

  19. Brain- Awareness • Power of Attention • Our brains are powerful • What we choose to focus on will influence how we feel • By being focused on our worries, we may miss things • Direction of Attention • Biologically we are velcro for negative thoughts; teflon for positive • Learning to direct our attention

  20. We Blame Events EVENTS Trying out for a team Speaking in public Going to School FEELINGS Anxiety Stressed Nervous

  21. Thought Investigation and Challenge

  22. Ideas for helping… • Model positive/realistic Thinking • Highlight the strengths of being an powerful thinker • Help them use skills • scaling • highlight positive/more realistic thinking • Help them scrutinize their thoughts

  23. Body How your body reacts…

  24. Body - Targets • The Basic (Sleep, Diet & Exercise) • Body sensations • Muscle tension • Heart palpitations, SOB, dizziness, nausea, vomiting • Inability to relax

  25. Body Strategies Create awareness of body stress Learn relaxation skills Highlight things that help you to relax Encourage proper care of the body (sleep, diet, exercise)

  26. Body- The Basics

  27. Body Mapping

  28. Body – Relaxation • Back to the Basics (Sleep, Diet, Exercise) • Play Detective- what already works • Relaxation Skills • Visualization, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing etc.

  29. Ideas for helping… • Model Positive Self Care • Encourage care of the basics • Help them use skills • Remind them of their skills to relax • Provide an opportunity for them to practice • Promote a relaxing environment at home

  30. Behavior What we do … How we respond….

  31. Behavior Targets Avoidance Emotional Outbursts Excessively Seeking Reassurance

  32. Behaviors Strategies • Build Emotional Muscle • Exposure & Habituation • Additional Coping Skills • Assertiveness • Time Management • Social Skills • Problem Solving etc.

  33. Let’s ride the waveof anxiety& Build emotional Muscle

  34. PRACTICE!!!!!!!!!!!

  35. Ideas for helping… Model brave behavior Encourage approach behaviors Help develop exposure plans Make exposure part of learning

  36. Tips for Supporters • Listen to the teen & don’t minimize • Reduce stress • Have routines • Normalize anxiety & use age appropriate language • Model brave behavior • Model problem solving skills, stress management & relaxation

  37. Tips for Supporters • Avoid excessive reassurance • Be mindful of your own reactions • Realistic expectations, small steps • Give appropriate consequences • Build self-confidence • Encourage independence • PRAISE!!!! You are helping them build skills to master their anxiety!

  38. Resources The Responsive Classroomapproach is a widely used, research-backed approach to elementary education that increases academic achievement, decreases problem behaviors, improves social skills, and leads to more high-quality instruction. (responsiveclassroom.org) The FRIENDS program is a school-based anxiety prevention and resiliency skill-building program. BC sponsored by the Ministry of Children and Family Development (friendsinfo.net) MindMasters, Mini Mindmasters- Eastern Ontario BC Anxiety Website Skills for Life Referral to Central Intake (local mental services)

  39. QUESTIONS????

More Related