Growing up in the ‘age of anxiety’: We speak to Tyrone therapist

ANXIETY is on the increase and we are experiencing epidemic levels of children and teenagers feeling “overwhelmed”, a Tyrone psychotherapist has warned.

Bronagh Starrs said, “As young people struggle with school phobia, panic attacks, OCD, insomnia, self-harm and suicidal feelings – correspondingly, the adult world struggles to know what to do by way of support.

“This already-established anxiety crisis was compounded by the coronavirus crisis. Anxiety became a central feature of our experience: Fears about illness and death, vaccine development, uncertainty about ‘the new normal’ etc. As a result, anxiety levels have reached even more unprecedented levels in children and teenagers.

“The prevalence of mental health issues in children and young people has risen dramatically over recent years with an estimated one in six affected.

“With an overwhelmed and undefended health service, professionals are struggling to address the needs of children and adolescents in our community. There is an urgent need for accessible and high quality mental health services to meet these complex issues.”

Experiencing Anxiety

The psychotherapist said we are living in the “age of anxiety.”

She added, “If you have ever endured a panic attack, you will appreciate its discomfort: Your heart pounds. A wave of suffocating heat and nausea rolls over you. Every breath feels taxing. Your mouth is dry and your voice muted. Your mind is offline. It feels like this will never end.

“Whilst horribly stressful, panic attacks are not at all uncommon and can occur spontaneously, or be provoked by a stressful event.

“For an adult, these can feel very disruptive, as you live in dread of the next attack. For a child or teenager, the experience can feel even more overwhelming and bewildering.

“The good news is that there are plenty of anxiety-reducing strategies available for young people such as mindfulness, breath regulation and relaxing techniques. However, too often, these can help in the moment but do not address the underlying issues.”

Bronagh continued, “There are common pitfalls parents fall into when relying on intuition to support anxious children: As young people put enormous pressure on themselves and torture themselves with obsessive, negative overthinking, parents all too often engage their child or teenager in recurring, redundant conversations about why they have no need to feel the way they do, trying to inject optimism and calm.

“Anxiety is contagious, so parents often end up feeling increasingly desperate and overwhelmed themselves. But there are plenty of ways in which parents can positively influence their child’s thoughts and feelings. Changing dimensions of the parent-child relationship and identifying strategies which address the heart of the young person’s struggles can make a considerable difference.”

Next month, the psychotherapist is holding an ‘Anxiety Clinic’ – a seminar for parents and caregivers, educators, mental health practitioners and related professionals such as social workers and guidance counsellors to explore the issue of anxiety in depth.

Participants will develop an understanding of the dynamics of anxious presentation in young people and a trove of helpful strategies will be offered.

l The event will take place on Friday, December 3 from 10am to 3pm in the Strule Arts Centre. Booking is essential via eventbrite. The link is available on Bronagh’s Facebook page ‘Bronagh Starrs Psychotherapist’.