Have you ever been afraid? Everyone gets scared sometimes. Do thunder
and lightning make your heart beat faster? Maybe your mouth goes dry when
your teacher announces a pop quiz, or your palms sweat when it's your turn to
give your report in front of the class. Perhaps you get butterflies in your stomach when you
see the bully that picks on you.
Everyday Worries We all have fears from time to time. That's true no matter how big
we are or brave we can be. Fear can even be good for you sometimes and even help
you stay healthy. Fear of getting too close to a campfire may save you
from a bad burn. And fear of getting a bad grade on a test may make you
study more.
Being a bit on edge can also sharpen your senses and help
you perform better in a recital or during a track meet. Some people even enjoy
being a little scared. That's why they like to watch scary movies - or go on
roller-coaster rides.
What Happens When You're
Scared? Have you ever wondered why being scared
makes your heart beat faster and makes you
breathe quicker? The body's reaction to fear is called the "fight or flight"
response. And people have had it since the beginning of time.
Here's how it works. Imagine you're a caveman or cavewoman alive 100,000
years ago - and you come face to face with a hungry saber-toothed tiger. You
have two choices: 1) Run for it (that's flight), or 2) pick up your club and
battle with the tiger (that's fight). A final choice (be eaten) doesn't seem
like such a good one!
Today, you can apply fight or flight to that bully who confronts you and
won't listen to reason. You have two choices: 1) Turn and walk away (flight), or
2) fight, even though you know fighting won't solve the problem.
To prepare for fight or flight, you body does a number of things
automatically so it's ready for quick action or a quick escape. Your heart rate
increases to pump more blood to your muscles and brain. Your lungs take in air faster
to supply your body with oxygen. The pupils in your eyes get larger to see better.
And your digestive and urinary systems
slow down for the moment so you can concentrate on more important
things.
What Is Anxiety? Usually, our bodies go into fight or flight only when there is
something to fear. However, sometimes this occurs when there doesn't seem to be
anything to be frightened about. When you feel scared but there doesn't seem to
be a clear reason, that's called anxiety (say:
ang-zye-uh-tee).
There might be other feelings that come along with anxiety
- like a feeling of tightness in your chest, a bellyache, dizziness, or a sense
that something horrible is going to happen. These feelings can be very
frightening. Sometimes anxiety can interfere with things you need to do, like
learning and sleeping.
For some kids, feelings of anxiety or worry
can happen anytime. For others, they might occur only at certain times, like
when they are leaving their home or family to go somewhere. In some people, this
feeling of anxiety occurs almost all the time and gets in the way of doing what
they want to do.
Some kids may have a phobia (say:
foe-bee-uh), which is an intense fear of something specific, such
as being up high, getting dirty, the number 13, or spiders.
Why Do People Have Anxiety? Anxiety can run in families. Or a person might develop anxiety
after something terrible happens, like a car crash. Sometimes certain medical
illnesses can cause feelings of anxiety. So can abusing alcohol or other drugs, like
cocaine.
Another part of the explanation has to do with the
different chemicals in the brain. How the chemicals in our brain's nerve cells
are balanced can affect how a person feels and acts. One of these chemicals is
serotonin (say: sir-uh-toe-nun). Serotonin is one of the brain
chemicals that helps send information from one brain nerve cell to another. But
for some people with anxiety, this brain chemical system doesn't always seem to
work the way it should.
Also, some scientists think that a special area in the
brain controls the fight or flight response. With anxiety, it's like having the
fight or flight response stuck in the ON position - even when there is no real
danger. That makes it hard to focus on everyday things.
Dealing With Anxiety Anxiety can be treated successfully. Tell your mom or dad if
your anxiety becomes strong and is getting in the way of what you want or need
to do. Your parents can take you to a doctor, who can help find out if a
medical problem is making you feel anxious. A therapist can help find a way
to lessen the anxiety through talking, activities, relaxation exercises, or
medication (or a combination of these things).
Of course, if you do come face to face with a hungry
saber-toothed tiger, there's just one thing you should do . . . RUN!
Reviewed by: David V.
Sheslow, PhD Date reviewed: August
2004
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