Anxiety

Anxiety can usually be put into three different categories: primary anxiety, secondary anxiety, and a combination of both.  

Children with primary anxiety usually are naturally anxious children.  From a very young age there have been signs of them being more hesitant to try new things, more worried about being separated from their parents, etc. (See more signs).  

Secondary anxiety usually occurs as a result from specific stresses that are placed on a child.  For children with dyslexia (and ADHD) academic struggles at school create chronic stress, both at school and often at home.  

Students with dyslexia are four times more likely to have anxiety than their non dyslexic peers.  Up to one third of children with dyslexia and ADHD have significant anxiety symptoms.  Parents of severely dyslexic students report over half of their children experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression.  Anxiety alone can greatly impact learning.  When combined with dyslexia and/or ADHD, the effects can be tremendous. 

So what can be done?  

Children with secondary anxiety often find relief from anxiety symptoms when the cause of their anxiety is alleviated. Tutoring and accommodations, if a child has dyslexia, or interventions (medication or behavioral) and accommodations for ADHD often help with secondary anxiety in these cases.

Children with primary anxiety are often helped by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an empirically validated treatment for anxiety.  It is also useful for addressing the underlying thought patterns and behaviors that may contribute to anxiety symptoms. 

We offer short-term counseling for individuals and/or parents. Please give us a call if you are interested in more information.