Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) in Children and Youth
Please take a moment to read the following case study:
Sarah is a 13 year old girl. About two years ago, she began exhibiting a range of concerning behaviors including excessive shyness, difficulty making friends and fear of going to school. She has been raised in a stable home with two other siblings who are relatively happy and exhibit no such behaviors. Sarah's previous teachers and caregivers have reported that she has difficulty paying attention and concentrating and interacting socially. Last year, she became even more reluctant to want to be at school, leave class without warning to the teacher so that she could sit by herself in the hallway. Her parents reported that when Sarah is nervous she will get up and walk away or detach from the situation and withdraw into her own little world. As a result of this behaviour, she has missed important school work and is falling behind in math as well as language. She enjoys visual art as well as music but does not enjoy working with others. Her parents reported that Sarah often seems detached and off in “her own little world”. She has an active imagination, and is very creative, but does not appear to be happy. Her previous teachers have never noted any problem behaviors. She has always been an average student. Recently, Sarah's parents have reported concerns about her mental health and self-esteem. She does not like to leave home and must be constantly cajoled into leaving "her own little world." Sarah agreed to see a child psychiatrist who diagnosed her with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Do you have a child or student who exhibits similar behaviour to Sarah's? Generalized Anxiety Disorders is an anxiety and withdrawal disorder which affects 2-5 % of the child and youth population (Winzer, 225). In GAD, anxiety symptoms are present most of the time and not related to a specific situation. These students often go unnoticed as they do not attract the teachers attention as aggressive behaviour as exhibited in conduct disorders.
Click here to learn more about GAD and how you as a teacher or parent of one of these children can support them.
in Children and Youth
Please take a moment to read the following case study:
Sarah is a 13 year old girl. About two years ago, she began exhibiting a range of concerning behaviors including excessive shyness, difficulty making friends and fear of going to school. She has been raised in a stable home with two other siblings who are relatively happy and exhibit no such behaviors. Sarah's previous teachers and caregivers have reported that she has difficulty paying attention and concentrating and interacting socially. Last year, she became even more reluctant to want to be at school, leave class without warning to the teacher so that she could sit by herself in the hallway. Her parents reported that when Sarah is nervous she will get up and walk away or detach from the situation and withdraw into her own little world. As a result of this behaviour, she has missed important school work and is falling behind in math as well as language. She enjoys visual art as well as music but does not enjoy working with others. Her parents reported that Sarah often seems detached and off in “her own little world”. She has an active imagination, and is very creative, but does not appear to be happy. Her previous teachers have never noted any problem behaviors. She has always been an average student. Recently, Sarah's parents have reported concerns about her mental health and self-esteem. She does not like to leave home and must be constantly cajoled into leaving "her own little world." Sarah agreed to see a child psychiatrist who diagnosed her with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Do you have a child or student who exhibits similar behaviour to Sarah's? Generalized Anxiety Disorders is an anxiety and withdrawal disorder which affects 2-5 % of the child and youth population (Winzer, 225). In GAD, anxiety symptoms are present most of the time and not related to a specific situation. These students often go unnoticed as they do not attract the teachers attention as aggressive behaviour as exhibited in conduct disorders.
Click here to learn more about GAD and how you as a teacher or parent of one of these children can support them.