Abstract
Anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental health issues that children and adults alike suffer from. Anxiety can be defined as a normal emotion. It is your brain's way of reacting to stress and alerting you of potential danger ahead. On the other hand, anxiety disorder is the constant fear or worry that hinders the health and behavior of an individual. This chapter will focus on understanding what anxiety disorder is in terms of causes, symptoms, and treatment in an African context. The discourse will focus on how anxiety disorder impacts school children in terms of performance, classroom behavior, and classroom intervention strategies.
TopCauses Of Anxiety Disorders
Researchers and medics allude that the causes of anxiety perpetuate from acute to mild and then proceed to severe depending on the failure of the individual to get a proper diagnosis and then the right medication (Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2011). Researchers also agree that causes of anxiety can be separated from acute, mild to severe as they proceed through those stages if help is not received, however, The causes of anxiety disorders are not fully understood, and life experiences such as traumatic events appear to trigger anxiety disorders in people who are already prone to anxiety. Inherited traits also can be a factor (Wadlinger & Isaacowitz, 2011).
Causes of anxiety can be classified into three categories medical, physical and emotional causes. Medical causes relate to illnesses that a person may suffer, such as diabetes or cancer etc. that makes them wonder how long they have left to live (Fox, Oler., Shackman, Shelton, Raveendran, McKay & Kalin, 2015). The worry then emanates into stressing about the future and if indeed they will have one leading to them developing anxiety which doctors will refer them to therapy to further understand their illness and manage it.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Intervention: The act of interfering with the outcome of course, especially of a condition or process (as to prevent harm or improve functioning)
Strategies: A plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim”
Inclusive: Not excluding any of the parties or groups involved in something.
Impairments: A diminishment or loss of function or ability.
Mental Health: A person’s condition about their psychological and emotional well-being.
Disorder: To disrupt the systematic functioning or neat arrangement of.
Symptoms: Subjective evidence of disease or physical disturbance broadly
Anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome.
Perspective: A particular attitude towards or way of regarding something; a point of view
Misconception: A view or opinion that is incorrect because based on faulty thinking or understanding