CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Anxiety
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal response to a stressor or a threat, but sometimes it becomes excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that interferes with daily activities. In children, adolescents and young adults, this can manifest as physical symptoms, avoidance behaviors, or emotional distress.
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and separation anxiety, are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions among children and adolescents. Early recognition and intervention are key to effective management and improving the quality of life of anxious children.
Signs and symptoms of anxiety in children
Anxiety in children and adolescents can present through a range of emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms. These signs can vary by age and the type of anxiety disorder present.
Emotional symptoms
Excessive worry or fear
Irritability or moodiness
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
Behavioral symptoms
Avoidance of people, places, or activities
Frequent reassurance-seeking
Clinginess (especially in younger children)
School refusal or drop in performance
Outbursts or tantrums
Physical symptoms
Stomachaches or headaches
Fatigue or restlessness
Muscle tension
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Rapid heartbeat or sweating
THE BLACKBIRD HEALTH DIFFERENCE
“It’s important to seek professional support when anxiety becomes persistent, severe, and interferes with daily life. Parents should also seek support for themselves if they feel overwhelmed, unsure about how to respond, or if anxiety is causing conflict within the family.”
— Caitlin Kolba, LCSW, Certified Clinical Trauma
Diagnosis and understanding
Anxiety is often a co-condition, which means it frequently occurs alongside other mental health conditions. Addressing anxiety by itself may be insufficient if other co-occurring conditions are present and contributing to the anxiety. Because anxiety may be interconnected with other underlying diagnoses such as intellectual disabilities, speech and language disorders, depression, ADHD, and other physical health conditions, Blackbird Health investigates all potential factors. Our comprehensive approach to treatment is proven to effectively manage anxiety and any related symptoms.
Factors we consider
Developmental
Cognitive
Behavioral
Physical
Genetic
Psychosocial
GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scoring
Frequency and Duration of Symptoms
Interference/Impact on daily life
Treatments
and goals
Depending on the child’s diagnosis, significant symptom improvement in children with anxiety can be achieved through a combination of therapeutic, behavioral, and sometimes medical approaches.
Here are the most widely used.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness, grounding and stress management techniques
Exposure Therapy
Medication
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Family Therapy
Goals for anxiety treatment vary for each individual and family, but some may include setting and implementing strategies for:
Reducing symptoms
Learning new coping skills
Increasing confidence and independence
Enhancing emotional awareness
Improving functioning at school and at home
Reducing avoidance behaviors
““We have been impressed with Blackbird Health’s services. It’s so rare to find comprehensive care like this—from testing to therapy to med management (and more)—all in one place. In addition, the school advocacy support we receive is unprecedented. We no longer feel like we are managing things alone. We feel cared for and continue to learn so much from Blackbird. And they take insurance, too!”
—Shannon W, Vienna, Virginia
Through the Blackbird Health understanding-first approach, we envision a world where every young person is fully understood and receives support building the tools they need to thrive.
