The Golden Vine

Evie's Creating Calm Counselling

At GGLPS my counselling focus is on supporting students and families to flourish by fostering positive mental health and wellbeing through individual, small group, and family counselling.  We provide pro-active programs which provide skills and strategies for self-care, maintaining positive relationships, positive learning behaviours, belonging, and strong connections with family and community. 

Anxiety - what is it?

Anxiety is the physiological and emotional reaction to perceived stress, dangerous or unfamiliar situations.  Anxiety can trigger what is known as the fight or flight (or freeze) response. In some ways, there can be good anxiety. For example, when crossing a road our fight/flight response is activated: “danger – a car is coming – do not cross the road!”  Most people would consider this a good thing – so, therefore – we have good anxiety. Our stress response has been activated to keep us safe.

 

For some individuals, the fight/flight response is activated far too easily and frequently. This can be seen as bad anxiety as it can stop us from approaching and doing those things that are actually good for us – like going to school, taking tests, going out or meeting new people. 

 

Different parts of the brain have a role to play in the stress response. These include the amygdala (detecting fear) and the hypothalamus, which then sends signals to glands that produce hormones. These hormones (adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol) circulate the body and affect heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, blow flow to muscles and attention. In other words, hormones help to prime the body to defend (fight) or getaway (flight) from danger.   

 

Children experiencing the fight/flight response may report physiological symptoms such as a tight jaw, intense anger, feeling like they want to stomp, kick or punch (fight mode) or feeling restless, highly fidgety or tense (flight mode). 

 

It is sometimes difficult to determine if children are experiencing anxiety as they are still learning how to recognise and regulate their emotions. Beyond Blue list some behaviours which can indicate higher than normal anxiety, including:

  • regularly taking a long time to calm or settle following separation from a family member;
  • demonstrating tantrums that are more regular or severe than others of the same age; 
  • showing limited interest or a lot of reluctance to interact with others;
  • unwilling to participate in unfamiliar activities;
  • demonstrating significant difficulty or distress during change or transitions;
  • wanting things to be perfect;
  • demonstrating a reluctance to ask for help;
  • asking for reassurance excessively;
  • frequently asking to go to the sickbay; and
  • challenging behaviour.

You can find the above list as well as other information on anxiety at https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/mental-health-issues-and-conditions/anxiety

 

If you are concerned that your child is feeling a higher level of anxiety – more than would be expected, please seek additional support. 

 

Evie Donoghue

School Counsellor