^Li Life Coach

o you ever panic before an exam? Or get crazy butterflies before a first date? For most of us, stress is that funny little feeling we get in our stomachs before something important's about to go down. But for some, this feeling can escalate until it becomes totally unbearable and takes over their lives. Little everyday things like stopping by the corner store can become terrifying. This is way more than being stressed - this is an anxiety disorder.

What is anxiety?
A year ago, Megan*, 15, was leading a n o r m a l life as a teenage g i r l when she started to feel different.

She was normally a carefree student, but small things started to make her feel sick with stress. " I started freaking out about everything, even stuff that didn't matter," Megan recalls. " M y heart would start beating faster and I d get all r e d faced and sweaty." Her condition soon intensified to the point where she suffered from frequent and intense panic attacks. " I ' d get totally stressed out and end up having full-on panic attacks. I'd be in tears and felt like I couldn't breathe properly," she explains. "It was usually little things that would set it off, like a b a d day at school or thinking about my break-up last year." At first, Megan didn't want to w o r r y her friends and family with her problems, but she eventually realised she needed help to get past her anxiety disorder. She's not alone - anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems experienced b y teenagers. In fact, one in 25 teenagers experience anxiety each year**. It's a serious condition that affects how you deal with people, school and work, and the feeling can last for weeks, months or even longer.

WHEN ANXIET
all get stressed from time to time, but what happens when anxiety starts to take over your life?

The symptoms of an anxiety

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disorder - such as a p o u n d i n g heart and thoughts like " I ' m g o i n g crazy" can often go unnoticed or b r u s h e d off as simply b e i n g a teenager. But you could be at risk if you've b e e n feeling particularly w o r r i e d and spend most days feeling tense, nervous or anxious. "Anxiety becomes a concern when it's irrational, difficult to manage and is interfering with your life - for example, if you avoid potentially enjoyable situations and experiences because you're scared or w o r r i e d , " explains child and family social worker E r i n O'Sullivan. Gen*, 16, realised something was seriously w r o n g when she discovered that she couldn't go out w i t h her friends without feeling irrationally nervous. " I refused to leave the house for about three months," she says. " I was so scared that if I d i d go out, I'd end up having a panic attack i n front of everyone."

often feel b a d about themselves and feel like there's something w r o n g with them," says Erin. "But it's important for girls to know they're not alone - other girls their age are experiencing the same t h i n g and help is available." Remember that treatment takes time; you might still have some b a d days i n the mix, but it is possible to get over it.

Sarah* 17. used to live i n constant fear and cried all day every day, without really understanding why. Eight months later, she's happy to say that she's now overcome her anxiety disorder. A great trick Sarah used to face her fears was to challenge herself to do the little things she was afraid of Start small with one action, like going to the shops alone, then build up until you feel comfortable participating in everyday activities again. "You might be terrified before you do it, but that relief afterwards makes it so worth it," she says. "Don't let your worries take over your life."

Start small

Talk about it

Erin suggests first chatting with close friends and family if you feel comfortable. " W h e n you can talk to someone you trust about how you're feeling, you'll often find that you're not alone and that your experiences are normal and can be managed w i t h the right help," she says.

Set your doc

Your doctor w i l l be able to suggest the best way to manage your anxiety or refer you to a psychologist. Gen says her parents didn't really understand her disorder, so it helped to talk to someone else. "They just didn't get it," she says. "But when I spoke to a counsellor, they could talk me through everything. No one should go through this alone."

Dizziness Shortness of breath Shaking Nausea Avoiding public places Avoiding eye contact with people A belief that you can't control your fear

OTHER SYMPTOMS INCLUDE:

Find the triqoars

T r y to w o r k out what sorts of situations kick off your anxiety and use positive self-talk and preparation to get you through. A few deep breaths in, then out, w i l l w o r k wonders.

How to deal
If your anxiety is interfering with your life, you need to deal with it ASAP. Don't just let it go; it's important to nip an anxiety disorder i n the b u d before it gets worse. "Young girls who experience frequent or intense anxiety

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thoughts A friend in nee

If you think your friend might be experiencing an anxiety disorder, y o u t h b e y o n d b l u e . c o m suggests the following approach: 1 t o o f a for signs of anxiety,

Take up coping strategies to challenge and change those n i g g l i n g little feelings. E.g. replace " I ' m going to fail this exam" with "I've done all the prep I could; I'm calm and i n control". " W i t h the right tools and support, you can change the way you experience certain situations," says Erin.

lake cart of yourself

A healthy b o d y encourages a healthy m i n d . Eat well, exercise regularly, get good sleep and find ways to relax. Pop into a yoga class, learn to meditate or take a stroll w i t h a friend. Remember that alcohol and drugs are NEVER It x. the answer.

2 L i s t e n to your friend's experience. 3 T a l k about what's going on.

4 S e e k help together.

WHERE TO GET HELP

Check out youthbeyondblue. com or ReachOut.com, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 for 24-hour help.

CALL 13 61 16 T O S U B S C R I B E DOLLY

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