What Causes Worries and Anxieties?

Anxiety is a natural feeling we all experience from time to time.

It’s our body’s way of preparing us for a challenge when faced with stress, by releasing a hormone called adrenaline. This causes the fight, flight or freeze response so that we’re alert and ready to react to the challenge. Therefore anxiety can be useful and helpful when we face new or stressful situations.

Becoming anxious is a normal part of our development as we grow up, we develop our “survival skills”, so that we can face challenges in the wider world. We can all respond differently to stressful situations. 

Raised anxiety could be due to:

• Past experiences
• Lifestyle: diet/sleep/caffeine/alcohol/drugs
• School/ home difficulties
• Physical and mental health problems
• Friendship/relationship difficulties

Fight, Flight and Freeze response

The effects of adrenaline, creates physical sensations throughout the body which can be uncomfortable and unwanted for example;

• Heart beats faster
• Breathing gets quicker
• You may feel sick

These reactions help your body prepare for a situation that your brain is telling you, is unsafe.

Adrenaline gives you the energy to deal with the situation that is making you anxious.

But…. sometimes we think we’re threatened when there’s nothing to fight.

When anxiety gets in the way of day to day life, it’s time to look at ways to help yourself.

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: Childline- Managing your anxiety
  
• w: Young Minds- Anxiety