What Is Anxiety?
Usually, our bodies go into fight or flight only when there is something to fear.
However, sometimes this occurs when there doesn't seem to be anything to be frightened
about. When you feel scared but there doesn't seem to be a clear reason, that's called
anxiety (say: ang-ZYE-uh-tee).
Other feelings might come along with anxiety — like a feeling of tightness
in your chest, a bellyache, dizziness, or a sense that something horrible is going
to happen. These feelings can be very frightening. Sometimes anxiety can interfere
with things you need to do, like learning and sleeping.
For some kids, feelings of anxiety or worry can happen anytime. For others, they
might occur only at certain times, like when they're leaving their home or family
to go somewhere. In some people, this feeling of anxiety occurs almost all the time
and gets in the way of doing what they want to do.
Some kids may have a phobia (say: FOE-bee-uh), which is an intense
fear of something specific, such as being up high, getting dirty, the number 13, or
spiders.
Why Do People Have Anxiety?
Anxiety can run in families. Or a person might develop anxiety after something
terrible happens, like a car crash. Sometimes certain medical illnesses can cause
feelings of anxiety. So can abusing alcohol
or other drugs, like cocaine.
Another part of the explanation has to do with the different chemicals in the nerve
cells of the brain. How the chemicals in our brain's nerve cells are balanced can
affect how we feel and act. One of these chemicals is serotonin (say:
sir-uh-TOE-nun). Serotonin is one of the brain chemicals that helps send information
from one brain nerve cell to another. But for some people with anxiety, this brain
chemical system doesn't always seem to work the way it should.
Also, some scientists think that a special area in the brain controls the fight
or flight response. With anxiety, it's like having the fight or flight response stuck
in the ON position — even when there is no real danger. That makes it hard to
focus on everyday things.
Dealing With Anxiety
Anxiety can be treated successfully. Tell your mom or dad if find yourself more
scared than you feel you should be or if your anxiety becomes strong and is getting
in the way of what you want or need to do.
Your parents might take you to a doctor,
who can help find out if a medical problem is making you feel anxious, or to a therapist, who can
help find a way to lessen the anxiety through talking, activities, relaxation exercises,
or medication (or a combination of these things).
Of course, if you do come face to face with a hungry saber-toothed tiger, there's
just one thing you should do . . . RUN!
Date reviewed: March 2014