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DID YOU KNOW?
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1 in 8 children
has an anxiety disorder, the most common mental disorder in children
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Children or
adolescents are more likely to have an anxiety disorder if their parents
have anxiety disorders
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Left untreated,
children with an anxiety disorder are at higher risk to perform poorly
in school, to have less developed social skills and to be more
vulnerable to substance abuse and cigarette smoking
TREATMENT OPTIONS
Behavior Therapy
The goal of Behavior
Therapy is to modify and gain control over unwanted behavior. The
individual learns to cope with difficult situations, often through
controlled exposure to them. This kind of therapy gives the individual a
sense of having control over their life.
Cognitive Therapy
The goal of
Cognitive Therapy is to change unproductive or harmful thought patterns.
The individual examines his feelings and learns to separate realistic from
unrealistic thoughts. As with Behavior Therapy, the individual is actively
involved in his own recovery and has a sense of control.
Cognitive-Behavior
Therapy (CBT)
Many therapists use
a combination of Cognitive and Behavior Therapies, this is often referred
to as CBT. One of the benefits of these types therapies is that the
patient learns recovery skills that are useful for a lifetime.
Relaxation
Techniques
Relaxation
Techniques help individuals develop the ability to more effectively cope
with the stresses that contribute to anxiety, as well as with some of the
physical symptoms of anxiety. The techniques taught include breathing
re-training and exercise.
Medication
Medication can be
very useful in the treatment of anxiety disorders, and it is often used in
conjunction with one or more of the therapies mentioned above. Sometimes
anti-depressants or anxiolytics (anti-anxiety medications) are used to
alleviate severe symptoms so that other forms of therapy can go forward.
Medication is effective for many people and can be either a short-term or
long-term treatment option, depending on the individual.
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