So What Is Anxiety, Really?
Anxiety is a physiological, mental, and emotional response to a stressor; it is a heightened, more extreme response to things that aren’t necessarily threats.   For example, that sensation you might get when meeting someone new:  feeling your heart beating faster, trembling in your hands, dry mouth.  Chances are, the person you are meeting isn’t a threat, but your autonomic nervous system perceives them that way.

What are the Symptoms of Anxiety in Kids and Teens?
Kids experience anxiety in a variety of ways.  Most commonly…

• Moodiness/irritability
• Withdrawal from friends, families or activities
• Headaches or stomachaches
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty with transitions from home to school or class to class
• Increased self-consciousness

Back-to-school can be a very stressful time for kids and teens, and can trigger the start of or continuation of anxious thoughts and feelings.  Those with ADD or ADHD frequently also experience anxiety.

How Is Anxiety Different in Adults?
Common symptoms in adults include:

• Worry about work, relationships and finances
• Feeling “keyed-up”, or tired
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Difficulty with concentration and focus
• “Comfort eating” or craving “carbs”
• Feeling irritable
• Difficulty relaxing and “turning off” thoughts

Is It Real or In My Head?
Anxiety is absolutely real. And incredibly common. We live in a 24/7 culture, with stimulation through technology and media coming at us at a pace that is impossible to keep up with.  Imagine a thimble trying to contain a waterfall.  Anxiety is often the result when we criticize ourselves for not being able to keep up, or compare ourselves with others.  And anxiety has strong genetic ties and can worsen when stressful life circumstances occur.
 
What Can I Do To Help Relieve My Anxiety?
ANXIETY IS INCREDIBLY TREATABLE. The first step is to recognize it. Steps you can take on your own include:

• Regular physical activity
• Reading for pleasure
• Watching TV or movies that make you laugh
• Journaling
• Being intentional about your social life
• Limiting caffeine and foods high in sugar
• Eliminate tobacco products

When these steps aren’t enough, seeking help from a professional counselor is wise. They can help you get to the root cause of your anxiety and teach additional skills and techniques to help.

By Stephen Creel, LCSW, LCAC 

The most frequently abused substances by adolescents are alcohol and marijuana (beyond tobacco, which is second). Amphetamines (typically Adderall) and synthetic marijuana (k2, spice) are also popular. LSD continues to be a problem.
 
Early intervention can prevent substance abuse in teens. For adolescents, the likelihood of addiction depends on multiple factors: 

• the influence of parents, peers and other role models
• how much they’re influenced by advertising of alcohol as well as other substances
• how early in life they begin to use illegal substances (including alcohol)
• the psychological need for the substance
• genetic factors

 
If you have a teenager, be alert to signs and symptoms that may indicate a problem with alcohol/drug use:

• Loss of interest in activities and hobbies, as well as in personal appearance.
• Increased unplanned sleep overs with friends.
• Red/bloodshot eyes, slurred speech.
• Problems with coordination and memory lapses.
• Frequent mood changes and defensive behavior.
• Lighters/eye drops found in room, clothing pockets.
• Difficulties or changes in relationships with friends, such as a new group of friends.
• School problems such as slipping grades, increased disruptive behaviors, truancy, tardiness.
• Frequent mood changes and defensive behavior.
• Burning incense often, excessive cologne.
• Clothes smell like burnt leaves.
• Drug-related clothing/jewelry – know their music and what it stands for.
• Increased appetite when returning home – “munchies,” or immediately washes hands or gets in shower (not part of typical daily routine).
• Risk-taking behaviors (high speed driving, fighting, vandalism, shoplifting).
• “Escaping” from events and/or family functions.

 
Risk factors for illegal substance use in adolescents include:

• Family history of substance abuse disorders.
• Recent relationship break-ups.
• Grief and loss (even pets).
• Diagnosis of Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD, ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder)
• Age at first exposure: People who begin drinking at an early are at a higher risk of problem drinking or physical dependence.
• Access to illegal substances – think parents’ alcohol, prescription drugs.

 
As a parent, you can help prevent teenage illegal substance use. Start by setting a good example with your own use. Use legal substances (alcohol) responsibly. Talk openly with your child. Spend quality time together and become actively involved in your child’s life. Let your child know what behavior you expect – and what the consequences will be if he or she doesn’t follow the rules.  And be consistent.