Generalized anxiety disorder in children

The nature of generalized anxiety disorder

Generalized anxiety disorder is a disorder in which a child experiences anxiety. Anxiety in this case is of a persistent nature and does not depend on the influence of external factors, that is, one can say that it arises from scratch.

The causes of the appearance of this type of disorder by science have not yet been fully clarified. It is generally accepted that this is due to the development of the child's brain. Girls are more exposed to it than boys and it occurs in about 2% of the total number of disorders in children. And without appropriate treatment with age, the disease can be exacerbated and lead to significant violations in the psychoemotional sphere of a person.

The theory of the features of brain development explains the origin of the generalized anxiety disorder in the following way: an anxiety state arises in the child's brain in itself, independently of any factors from the outside, and then the child's brain finds and binds this state to some event or phenomenon.

The very state of anxiety is a natural, healthy reaction of the body, which warns about possible danger. Normally, it is present exactly as much as there is a particular danger. And as soon as the danger is over, the alarm must also pass. A child with a generalized anxiety disorder does not feel anxious, but finds a new object( situation) for anxiety. And, the child can simultaneously worry about many things and so for a long time.

If a child is disturbed at the same time by five or more "things" and this condition does not pass within six months, then it can be said with certainty that the child suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder. Sometimes such a state can result in a strong shock that the child has experienced - for example, the death of one of the parents, the divorce or loss of a pet. Once after experiencing the shock, the child constantly begins to expect something like this, i.e. Is in a state of constant anxiety and fear.

In the past 15 years, scientists have considered the hereditary nature of the origin of this type of disorder.

Symptoms and diagnosis of disorder

Here is how the older children themselves( 10-14 years) describe themselves:

• if something upsets me and upsets me, it's very hard for me to calm down, I constantly think about it;
• I'm always waiting for something to happen;
• annoys me, because I'm afraid to miss the moment I'm waiting for. I myself do not understand what exactly I'm waiting for, but I know for sure that this moment should come and that I do not want to miss it, I prefer to less communicate with others that they would not distract me from expectation.

In this case it is necessary to take into account that the state is permanent and long-lasting. One anxiety replaces another, and of course this can not but affect the general well-being of the child.

Among all the experiences and feelings, generalized anxiety disorder has the following symptoms:

• a constant sense of anxiety. The child, as it were, is constantly in tension( waiting);
• child is difficult to adequately respond to events. Often his reaction is exaggerated;
• any small thing is able to get the child out of himself. You can even say that everything is annoying him - both good and bad;
• the child can not long engage in one type of activity, since he has a lack of concentration;
• the child very quickly gets tired, as internal tension and a constant state of alarm "take away" from him all the forces;
• is broken sleep. A child can often wake up and even cry without reason;
• because of a constant sense of anxiety the child is exposed to excessive work of sweat glands, i.e. He has increased sweating;
• very often the child has a tremor - the hands are shaking;
• frequent, unreasonable attacks of nausea, which can be accompanied by pain in the abdomen;
• a prolonged stay in this condition can lead to hearing and vision impairment;
• frequent overexertion often leads to unconscious syncope in children;
• the child becomes closed and whiny.

Very often, it does not occur to parents that the child suffers from a generalized anxiety disorder - in fact, it is considered that the little child is not worried about anything, and the presence of these symptoms in adolescents is written off for a transitional age. All this greatly complicates the timely diagnosis of the disease. Can pass more than one year of unsuccessful treatment in various kinds of specialists, before the child is referred to a psychiatrist.

When diagnosing a generalized anxiety disorder, it is necessary to clearly differentiate it from other types of mental disorders. It is also necessary to take into account that this type of disorder can be combined with other anxiety states - panic, phobias, etc.

Treatment and prevention of generalized anxiety disorder

The main and decisive role in the treatment of anxiety disorder in children belongs to psychotherapy. And the earlier this happens, the more chances for a favorable outlook.

Parents should not refuse treatment from a psychiatrist when making a diagnosis, referring to the fact that they say that the extreme life situations "will temper the will of a growing child" and he will cease to worry about every trifle. That will not happen! On the contrary, the disease can worsen and lead to irreparable consequences in the psychoemotional sphere of the child.

Very good results are provided by family therapy, when the child feels the support of people close to him. This allows a little internally to relax the child and relieve the tension inherent in this disease.

A good effect can be provided by group therapy, when the child starts to understand that he is not alone in his problem and will no longer shut himself up with his anxieties.

In the treatment of adolescents, behavioral psychotherapy is important. It will help to develop and master the skills of managing a sudden sense of anxiety.

Unfortunately, in advanced cases of the course of the disease, in order to aggravate the situation, one must resort to medical treatment. In this case, the specialist prescribes a course of antidepressants and tranquilizers, which are taken according to a special scheme. These drugs help to avoid deep depression( or withdraw from it), into which a child, constantly in a state of anxiety, can fall.

As for the prognosis of the disease, it is ambiguous. Everything depends on the stage at which the treatment began. In 20% of cases in children, the disease "returns" and in adulthood.