Anxiety Treatment
The tween and teen years are stressful. These kids face obstacles and learn to overcome them, and they’re repeatedly tested in school and every other aspect of their lives.
Bouts of anxiety at this age make sense. It’s natural to be nervous about a class presentation or exam, confessing to their crush, or confronting a friend about something that upset them.
When does that natural anxiety become something more concerning, though? How do you know when your child needs anxiety treatment?
Anxiety comes in a lot of shapes and sizes, and SoCal Youth Center can help – no matter what it looks like. Let us tell you more about what we do and help you determine if your child needs extra support.
What We Treat: Anxiety Disorders
Sometimes, anxiety is debilitating. It makes getting out of bed every day a challenge – let alone making it out the door, heading to school, and surviving a long day surrounded by people with the potential to judge you and treat you cruelly.
A lot of kids live with this overwhelming fear, often in silence, because their anxiety prevents them from asking for help. Asking for help is scary for anyone – especially for someone stuck in a constant state of expecting the worst.
Being here and reading this page is a good thing, even if it might not seem like it now. That means you know your child is living with some form of anxiety, and you have their back. Whether they can express it now or not, that’s a huge help.
SoCal Youth Center is ready to have their back, too.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
We diagnose and treat all types of anxiety disorders at SoCal Youth Center. If your child comes to us with intense anxiety, they likely have one of these conditions:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – Extreme and consistent fear and worry, often over everyday responsibilities and activities
- Panic disorder – Recurrent panic attacks (see the section on panic attacks below)
- Specific phobia – Extreme fear of a certain object or situation that is ultimately harmless
- Agoraphobia – A fear of being somewhere difficult to escape or receive help in, such as public transportation, crowds, and more
- Social anxiety disorder – Extreme fear of being judged, ridiculed, or humiliated in social situations
- Separation anxiety disorder – Fear when apart from a person they’re attached to, usually involving worry that something bad will happen when they’re not together. This is most common in younger children but can continue in older years
- Selective mutism – Speaking when around loved ones and at home, but not in more public social situations. It also mostly impacts younger children
Clients Testimonial
How We Treat: What to Expect From Anxiety Treatment With SoCal Youth Center
At SoCal Youth Center, we believe that connection is key to overcoming mental health concerns. We also know forming those connections is way easier said than done, especially for kids with anxiety.
We try to make it as easy and natural as possible to build social skills and relationships, and a big component of this is our group therapy. We have weekly groups focusing on identity, communication, self-esteem, and a fun one: Dungeons and Dragons. These groups all empower kids to develop teamwork and social skills, build confidence, and inspire self-discovery and creativity.
We have both a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and an after-school program. In our PHP program, we support kids with their school work and academics while building up their mental health. Our after-school program runs from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Monday through Thursday.
We also offer a telehealth option, which can be helpful for kids with anxiety. They’ll still participate in group therapy through our iPad, but in a more comfortable environment.
No matter your chosen program, your child will receive weekly individual and family therapy sessions alongside group therapy.
How long treatment with us lasts depends entirely on what your child needs. Their treatment at SoCal Youth Center will be customized and tailored to them, including how long it lasts. We encourage your family to stay with us until everyone is confident that your child can take on the world – especially them!
Symptoms of Anxiety Disorders
Because there are so many different anxiety disorders, symptoms can vary, but if your child regularly experiences any of these symptoms, it’s worth taking a closer look:
- Persistent nervousness and tension
- A feeling of impending doom or dread for no identifiable reason
- Uncontrollable worrying
- Avoiding situations that make them anxious or uncomfortable
- General restlessness or feeling on edge
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Trouble concentrating on anything other than what’s concerning them
- Insomnia
- Stomach trouble
When in doubt, it’s always best to consult a doctor. You know your child best, and if something doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts. You can try to get your child to open up about why they’re anxious, but remember that anxious kids are usually afraid to share how they feel for one reason or another. This isn’t anyone’s fault – it’s the anxiety. Your child being distressed about opening up to you is a sign in itself that they could use some mental health support.
What Is an Anxiety Attack?
“Anxiety attack” isn’t actually a medical term, and its definition is a little vague. Unlike panic attacks – which are included in medical guidelines – there’s no official list of symptoms of an anxiety attack. That leaves it up for interpretation.
Generally, someone may say they’re having an anxiety attack if they’re incredibly stressed and overwhelmed, especially if those feelings get more intense suddenly. You probably know the feeling!
Sometimes, though, when people say “anxiety attack,” they’re talking about a panic attack. Anyone can have a panic attack – you don’t need an anxiety disorder diagnosis, and having one doesn’t necessarily mean you have a mental health condition. All sorts of stressors can trigger a panic attack. Here are some of the symptoms:
- Intense distress
- Feeling like you’re dying or out of control
- Heart palpitations and/or higher heart rate
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating
- Shakiness
- “Choking” feeling
- Nausea
- Dizziness
Panic attacks are scary! The physical symptoms often reinforce the intense anxiety the person is feeling, which then makes the physical symptoms worse. If your child ever experiences a panic attack, it’s important to remind them that they’re temporary and not dangerous, no matter how it might feel. Try to focus on breathing deeply, and you’ll make it through!
Keep in mind that if your child frequently experiences panic attacks, they might have panic disorder. If their anxiety is significantly impacting their life, it’s always a good idea to talk to a doctor.
How Are Anxiety Disorders Diagnosed?
Most mental health professionals follow the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This written guide outlines all of the symptoms of different anxiety disorders so everyone in the medical field follows the same standards.
Each type of anxiety disorder has a different set of criteria, and if your child is living with anxiety but doesn’t fit the criteria to a T, that’s okay! Their anxiety is still very real and treatable – and if it’s impacting their daily life, they should receive treatment.
How Common Are Anxiety Disorders?
Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in the world, so if your child has anxiety, they definitely aren’t alone.
Data from 2022 indicates that 10% of children in the United States ages 3-17 had diagnosed anxiety. If you do the math, that’s over 950,000 kids with anxiety in California alone. That’s a lot.
This number can be comforting and discouraging. There are so many families experiencing the same thing as you right now. At the same time, why are so many of our kids living with anxiety?
That’s something experts – and professionals like SoCal Youth Center – are trying to identify every day. The good news is that 53% of kids are getting mental health treatment, but we aim to improve these statistics.
It happens one child at a time – including your child. They’re not just an important part of improving youth mental health, though. They’re a valuable young person with so much love and light to offer the world. Their anxiety doesn’t have to hold them back.
What Causes Anxiety Disorders?
We’re not sure what the exact cause of anxiety disorders is yet, but scientists are doing more research every day, so hopefully, one day we will!
Anxiety disorders tend to “run in families,” but that doesn’t mean it’s all genetic – though part of it likely is. Kids can also learn a lot of anxious behaviors from the people around them and develop anxiety that way. Anxiety disorders often appear after a child experiences a traumatic event or large life change, too.
The most likely cause of anxiety is a combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.
Finding Anxiety Treatment for Kids in Southern California
Managing anxiety is exhausting – both for you and your child. No one wants to see their loved one live in fear every day. You want them to feel free! The last thing you want is for their mental health to interfere with their ability to enjoy life and take advantage of the opportunities that come their way.
Thankfully, you don’t have to live like that! Help is available. It’ll take bravery on your child’s part to overcome their anxiety and make it to treatment, but they can do it. It’s worth it, and we’ll welcome them with open arms.
SoCal Youth Center provides mental health services for youth ages 8-18. Many of the kids we work with have high-functioning autism and/or are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and we know how much anxiety can plague these groups of young people. We welcome them with patience, kindness, understanding of their experiences, and a listening ear for anything they need. Together, we’ll build the social skills and strategies they need to overcome their anxiety and regain control of their lives. Contact us at (714) 716-5044 to get started today.
SoCal Youth Center: Celebrating diversity, embracing unity.