We are not trained in mental health, however we have a lot of experience with young people and the issues they are facing. Anxiety and depression is rife, we encourage you to know the signs and know how to find help. A great place to start is with your GP and if you feel like you are getting nowhere there, see another!
Here are some of the signs from Healthline.com:
While anxiety symptoms vary from person to person, in general the body reacts in a very specific way to anxiety. When you feel anxious, your body goes on high alert, looking for possible danger and activating your fight or flight responses. As a result, some common symptoms of anxiety include:
- nervousness, restlessness, or being tense
- feelings of danger, panic, or dread
- rapid heart rate
- rapid breathing, or hyperventilation
- increased or heavy sweating
- trembling or muscle twitching
- weakness and lethargy
- difficulty focusing or thinking clearly about anything other than the thing you’re worried about
- insomnia
- digestive or gastrointestinal problems, such as gas, constipation, or diarrhoea
- a strong desire to avoid the things that trigger your anxiety
- obsessions about certain ideas, a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- performing certain behaviors over and over again
- anxiety surrounding a particular life event or experience that has occurred in the past, especially indicative of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Panic attacks
A panic attack is a sudden onset of fear or distress that peaks in minutes and involves experiencing at least four of the following symptoms:
- palpitations
- sweating
- shaking or trembling
- feeling shortness of breath or smothering
- sensation of choking
- chest pains or tightness
- nausea or gastrointestinal problems
- dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint
- feeling hot or cold
- numbness or tingling sensations (paresthesia)
- feeling detached from oneself or reality, known as depersonalization and derealization
- fear of “going crazy” or losing control
- fear of dying
Check out the special on TVNZ Sunday, November 2017:
Sunday: Under Pressure the Rise of Anxiety in Kiwi Youth