Guide to Childhood Anxiety and Helping Them Cope

No parent likes to see their child sad or frightened, but more and more children in the Western world are now coping with stress and anxiety. For the most part, parents of children who suffer from these feelings are at a loss while at the same time they look for every possible way to help their children cope with this situation, sometimes to no avail. If your children are suffering from anxiety, or you know parents of such children, you should read the following article, which highlights some of the common causes of anxiety, signs the child is suffering and how to cope with it so that you can be the best parent you can be and help them cope.

8 Common Causes of Anxiety in Children:

1. A significant change in the family - One of the main causes of anxiety and depression among children is a significant change in the family - divorce, death, moving, and even birth can undermine your child's peace of mind. Think about these significant changes and understand that they can shake your child’s stability and make them feel insecure, leading to confusion and eventually to anxiety and depression.
2. Parental instability - Another reason many children experience anxiety and depression is parental instability, which means that the parent's life is unstable and as a result, the children's security is undermined. Money, feelings of depression, family turmoil or fighting between parents can cause your children to experience a tremendous sense of helplessness because they want to help, but they don’t have the means to do so, thereby making the road to anxiety and depression very short.
3. Packed schedules - Today most children have packed schedules; From school through to private lessons to spending time with friends, these are just some of the activities that many children take part in. These children tend to run between activities which can cause great stress. Even if they seem happy and enjoy the activity load, in most cases they need occasional quiet and rest.
4. Educational pressure - the school curriculum can be a burden on many children, along with the number of assignments and tests given throughout the year. Therefore, this is one of the causes of stress among many children who are anxious about succeeding in school. Such pressure is most common among teenagers and children who are afraid to make mistakes and fail or be imperfect.

5. Popularity - In today's reality, the need to show off and be seen exists in everyone, even in many children. For the most part, being shunned or even simply not popular can be a major factor of depression in children. As they grow, most of them want to integrate and feel a sense of belonging to a particular group, and this pressure can sometimes be agonizing.
6. Bullying - This common problem affects many children very strongly, especially in the mental-emotional aspect, and sometimes can also cause physical damage. Children who struggle with bullying often feel embarrassed that they are targets, and as a result may hide the abuse from their parents and teachers for fear of drawing attention to themselves and exposing their weaknesses.
7. News - Everywhere in the world there are media outlets that report on various events that happen around the world, and this information, which can sometimes be difficult, is exposed to many children. News headlines and images depicting natural disasters, terrorist attacks, violence, and more can cause anxiety among children. When children see and hear bad news, they may worry that something bad can happen to them or someone they love.
8. A scary film or book - today's movies, television, and literature have become more blunt and speculative, therefore, fiction stories can cause distress or anxiety among some children. Children are often affected by frightening, violent, or disturbing scenes that are shown in a movie or written in a book. Some may even be more sensitive. Try to understand who your child is, how sensitive he/she is, and what scares them, and limit the content they are exposed to based on this knowledge.

Causes, signs, and ways of dealing with anxiety in children:

Physical signs

• They often complain of headaches or stomachaches, although there is no medical reason behind the pain.
• Refuse to eat snacks or meals at school.
• Don't use restrooms other than those at home.
• They are restless, nervous, hyperactive or distracted.
• They begin to tremble or sweat in threatening situations.
• They have constant difficulty falling asleep.
• Their muscles are tense all the time.

Emotional signs

• They often cry. 
• They are overly sensitive.
• They are angry for no apparent reason.
• They are afraid to make small mistakes.
• They suffer from excessive fears (natural disasters, bees, etc.).
• Worry about what happens in the future.
• Suffer from recurring nightmares about the loss of a parent or other loved one.
• Their worries and fears interfere with them having childlike fun.
• They suffer from tantrums.
• They are preoccupied with obsessive thoughts or suffering compulsive behaviors (finger tapping, hand washing, etc.).

Behavioral signs

• They always ask, "What if?"
• They refrain from participating in class activities, even outside school hours.
• They are quiet or preoccupied with something while they are supposed to work with others.
• They Refuse to go to school.
• They often are alone during recess.
• They refuse to talk to people in public places. 
• They constantly ask permission from parents, teachers, and friends.
• They say, "I can’t " without a real reason. 
• They find it difficult to part from people who are close to them, even if only for a short time, and they respond to this separation in an exaggerated and unusual way.

7 Ways of coping with parents of children with anxiety

1. Teach children to control anxiety

Not one of us is interested in seeing their child anxious and sad, and the best way to help them overcome it is actually to teach them to control these feelings. Talk to your child about their feelings and the panic attacks they suffer from, try to understand how they begin, their triggers and the symptoms. When you learn to identify them, they can be better controlled. Of course, the beginning will be difficult and the self-control will improve over time and practice.

2. Don’t avoid certain things just because they can trigger your child’s anxiety 

Preventing situations that cause anxiety in children can be an effective short-term solution, however, this won’t help your child develop the coping skills needed to deal with anxiety in the long term. If you constantly come to your child’s rescue when they are faced with something that causes them anxiety, they’ll learn that they have someone that will deal with their anxiety for them. This is why you need to allow your child to experience these situations and teach them how to deal with and soothe panic attacks.

3. Present the situation in a positive but realistic light

You can’t sugar coat your child’s fear and make them believe they’ll never happen. Whether it's failing a test, a visit to the dentist, or bullying, these are things your child really might have to face, and they can be scary, you, however, need to show them that you are confident in the ability to deal with these situations. The intention here is to reassure the children that they will understand that any experience they undergo, good or bad, is temporary and can be controlled. Over time, their level of anxiety will decline and they will rely on the confidence you place on them. 

4. Respect their feelings but don’t empower them

It’s important to understand that respecting their feelings doesn’t mean you are approving or agreeing with them.  If your child is afraid, for example, to go to the doctor because they are scared of shots, don’t undermine this fear, but at the same time don’t increase it. Just listen to your child, be empathic and help them understand why they are afraid, and then encourage them and make them feel that they can conquer their fears. Remember, the message you want to convey is "I know you're scared, it's fine, I'm here and I'm going to help you through this."

5. Don’t ask leading questions

You should encourage your children to talk about their feelings and anxieties, but try not to use leading questions like: "Are you afraid of the test next week?" Or "Are you afraid of visiting the doctor?" To avoid asking them questions that will increase their anxiety just ask them open questions such as: "How do you feel about the test you have next week?"

6. Encourage them to accept their anxieties

You must show your children that you appreciate the effort their putting into coping with the depression and anxiety they experience, which will encourage them to continue to do so until the situation changes. Remember that your children cope with anxiety attacks every day, and with your support, their feelings will improve and eventually they’ll be able to overcome their fears. 

7. Be a role model in dealing with anxiety

The best way to help your children deal with anxiety is by showing them how you deal with it. Children, especially at a young age, absorb much of the behaviors of their environment and especially their parents. If they constantly hear their parents complain and see them unable to cope with their stress and fears they will adopt these same inabilities. We aren’t saying you need to pretend to not have fears or feels stress, but we are saying that you should be exhibiting the correct way to deal with it
Closing words
Every parent wants their child to be happy, so many parents find it difficult to help their children and understand them when they are suffering from anxiety. We believe that thanks to the knowledge you’ve acquired here, you’ll be able to identify signs of anxiety in your children and know how to help them cope with it. In addition, you may want to consider providing your child with professional care, such as therapy.
 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com

Effeccts of Low sodium in the body

Low Sodium- Hyponatremia facts

• Hyponatremia refers to a low level of sodium in the blood.
• Hyponatremia may result from excess fluid in the body relative to a normal amount of sodium, or it may be due to a loss of sodium and body fluid.
• Symptoms are nonspecific and can include mental changes, headache, nausea and vomiting, tiredness, muscle spasms, and seizures.
• Severe hyponatremia can lead to coma and can be fatal.
• Treatment of hyponatremia involves intravenous fluid and electrolyte replacement, medications to manage the symptoms of hyponatremia, as well as any treatments for the underlying cause.

What is hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?

Hyponatremia refers to a lower-than-normal level of sodium in the blood. Sodium is essential for many body functions including the maintenance of fluid balance, regulation of blood pressure, and normal function of the nervous system. Hyponatremia has sometimes been referred to as "water intoxication," especially when it is due to the consumption of excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium.
Sodium is the major positively charged ion (cation) in the fluid outside of cells of the body. The chemical notation for sodium is Na. When combined with chloride (Cl), the resulting substance is table salt (NaCl).
The normal blood sodium level is 135 - 145 milliEquivalents/liter (mEq/L), or in international units, 135 - 145 millimoles/liter (mmol/L). Results may vary slightly among different laboratories.

What causes hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?

A low sodium level in the blood may result from excess water or fluid in the body, diluting the normal amount of sodium so that the concentration appears low. This type of hyponatremia can be the result of chronic conditions such as kidney failure (when excess fluid cannot be efficiently excreted) and congestive heart failure, in which excess fluid accumulates in the body. SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone) is a disease whereby the body produces too much anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), resulting in retention of water in the body. Consuming excess water, for example during strenuous exercise, without adequate replacement of sodium, can also result in hyponatremia.
Hyponatremia can also result when sodium is lost from the body or when both sodium and fluid are lost from the body, for example, during prolonged sweating and severe vomiting or diarrhea.
Medical conditions that can sometimes be associated with hyponatremia are adrenal insufficiency, hypothyroidism, and cirrhosis of the liver.
Finally, a number of medications can lower blood sodium levels. Examples of these include diuretics, vasopressin, and the sulfonylurea drugs.

What are the symptoms of hyponatremia (low blood sodium)?

When sodium levels in the body are low, water tends to enter cells, causing them to swell. When this occurs in the brain, it is referred to as cerebral edema. Cerebral edema is particularly dangerous because the brain is confined in the skull without room for expansion, and the swelling can lead to brain damage as the pressure increases within the skull. Cerebral edema is only a danger in severe cases of hyponatremia.
In chronic hyponatremia, in which the blood sodium levels drop gradually over time, symptoms are typically less severe than with acute hyponatremia (a sudden drop in blood sodium level). Symptoms can be very nonspecific and can include:

• headache,
• confusion or altered mental state,
• seizures, and
• decreased consciousness which can proceed to coma and death.

Other possible symptoms include:

• restlessness,
• muscle spasms or cramps,
• weakness, and tiredness.

Nausea and vomiting may accompany any of the symptoms.

How is hyponatremia (low blood sodium) diagnosed?

The symptoms of hyponatremia are nonspecific, so a blood test measuring the sodium level is required to confirm the diagnosis of hyponatremia. Sometimes the medical history (such as prolonged vomiting or excessive sweating) will suggest the diagnosis. In other cases, further blood tests, urine tests, and imaging studies may be needed in order to determine the exact cause of the hyponatremia.

How is hyponatremia (low blood sodium) treated?

Mild chronic hyponatremia may not require treatment other than adjustments in diet, lifestyle, or medications. For severe or acute hyponatremia, treatment typically involves the intravenous administration of fluids and electrolytes. In this case medications are often needed that treat the underlying cause of the hyponatremia as well as medications to manage the accompanying symptoms.

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20 sleep disorders one should avoid

Everyone needs quality sleep every single night, but lifestyle choices and hurdles make sleep disorders more common than good sleep. 

This poor sleeping pattern has serious repercussions on our health, and the first thing we notice is unhealthy weight gain or weight loss, low concentration, and mood swings. 

If you have trouble sleeping almost every day and this lack of sleep is affecting your day-to-day routine, then you may be suffering from one of the many (and most common) sleep disorders. You will be surprised to know that there are many more sleep disorders than just insomnia and sleep apnoea  Today, we help you learn about these various sleep disorders and their symptoms, so that you can take action and treat these conditions before they take a toll on your life. 

 1: Sleep bruxism 

Sleep bruxism is most commonly known as teeth grinding. Here the sufferer clenches or grinds their teeth while sleeping. The real cause of this sleep disorder is still unknown, but stress, tension, suppressed anger or misalignments of the teeth do lead to this problem. 

This sleep disorder is though not that serious, but if this problem continues for a long time then, it can lead to jaw disorders, damaged teeth and various other mouth problems. Simple treatments are given to correct the problem generally, such as a mouth guard or therapy. 

 2: Sleep apnoea 

Sleep apnoea is a serious, life-threatening and a very common sleep disorder. This problem temporarily stops the sufferers breathing during sleep. This temporary halt is due to the blockage of the upper airways. This sleep disorder, can lead to interruption in your sleep due to many awakenings each hour. 

The effect of this sleep makes the sufferer exhausted, irritated and lowers work productivity during the day. The common symptoms of sleep apnoea are loud snoring, frequent pauses in breathing or gasping during sleep and waking up un-refreshed no matter how much time you spent sleeping. 

If you suspect you or your loved one is suffering with this sleep disorder, then speak to your doctor. The other simple treatment to treat this sleep disorder is losing weight, elevating the head of the bed and sleeping on your side. 

 3: Perpetual jet lag 

Jet lag occurs when the body's inner clock is out of synchronization with time signals it receives from the environment. Time signals include meal times, sunrise and sunset, and daily cycles of rest and activity. This disorder happens due to rapid transitions across multiple time-zones. The risk is very high with nocturnal shift work employees who transfer to night shifts. The common symptoms of jet lag are feeling of irritability, insomnia, indigestion and general disorientation 

The effect of jet lag on people is not immediate; apparently it may take a couple of days for this disorder to catch up. 

 4: Sleep eating 

This problem is a sleep disorder, as well as an eating disorder. The consequences of this disorder can be very severe if the sufferer has any health problems like diabetes or food allergies. This disorder involves eating of high-calorie foods over a very short time and without the sleeper's knowledge. 

 5: Rapid eye movement behavior disorder 

Rapid eye movement (REM) behaviour disorder is a sleep disorder characterized by the loss of standard voluntary muscle during REM sleep. Here the patient physically acts out often vivid, unpleasant dream with abnormal vocal sounds and movements during rapid eye movement sleep. 

REM behaviour sleep disorder can cause serious injury to either the patient or their bed partners. REM can be dangerous as it is associated with other neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease and dementia. 

 6: Sleep walking 

Sleep walking is pretty harmless but it can be serious when a sleepwalker gets into a car and goes for a ride. Many a times the person who sleepwalks will not remember walking, but may wake up speaking clumsily. Sleep walking is usually caused by an underlying problem, such as seizures, sleep apnoea or arrhythmias. 

 7: Frequent urination 

Waking up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom is such a common problem. As we get older, our bodies' ability to hold fluids for long periods reduces and this causes sleep deprivation in many adults. 

The best approach to deal with this problem is by noting down how often you are waking up. If you wake up quite often, then go and see your doctor, because the cause for your sleep deprivation due to frequent urination can be an over-active bladder or urinary tract infections. 

You can also treat this sleep disorder by taking simple steps like avoiding liquids for three hours before bedtime, lowering the consumption of tea and coffee and avoiding foods with high liquid content like soups for dinner. 

 8: Restless leg syndrome 

In this sleep disorder, the sufferer faces an almost irresistible urge to move legs or arms. This urge occurs usually when the sufferer is resting or lying down due to some uncomfortable, painful or aching situations. 

The common signs and symptoms of this syndrome includes: painful feelings deep within legs which comes along with a strong urge to move them. Repetitive cramping of the legs also occurs during sleep. The painful sensations temporarily get better when the sufferer moves, stretches or massages that area 

 9: Advanced sleep phase disorder 

Advanced sleep phase syndrome is a disorder in which the major sleeping affair is advanced in relation to the desired clock time. The body of the patient sets a certain time and this makes the patient go to sleep in the evening and wake up early in the morning. The common symptoms are compelling evening sleepiness, an early sleep onset, and an awakening that is earlier than desired. 

10: Narcolepsy 

Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder that usually begins during adolescence and is distinguished by excessive daytime sleepiness with the occurrence of sleep attacks. Narcolepsy can be genetic, or can occur in the absence of any family history as well. 

The symptoms of narcolepsy that may or may not be present are: cataplexy - sudden loss of muscle tone, sleep paralysis and hypnogogic hallucinations. The treatment of narcolepsy requires a mixture of behavioral modification and drug therapy. 

11: Sleep paralysis 

Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs between the two phases of wakefulness and sleep. Its common symptoms are not being able to speak or move for a few minutes or seconds. At times a sufferer can even feel pressure or a sense of choking. It is mostly accompanied with other sleep disorders like narcolepsy. 

12: Kleine-Levin syndrome 

Kleine-Levin syndrome or sleeping beauty syndrome is a sleeping disorder characterized by recurring periods of excessive amounts of sleeping and eating. The sufferer can even sleep for days, it sounds cool, but it can be very disastrous. When the patient wakes up, it seems his entire world is changed and he acts childish due to confusion, disorientation, lack of energy and lack of emotions. Most are bedridden, tired, and uncommunicative even when awake. The sufferer's life is completely out of focus and they are hypertensive to noise and light. They lose interest in food, games and their favourite hobbies. Affected individuals may go for a period of weeks, months or even years without experiencing any symptoms, and then they reappear with little warning. 

13: Adult bedwetting 

There are two types of adult bed-wetting  Primary nocturnal enuresis occurs when an adult never conquers simple childhood bed-wetting associated with potty training. The other is called adult onset secondary enuresis, which begins well into adulthood. 

This condition can be genetic, but a variety of factors, including diabetes, can also be at the root of the problem. Increased production of urine during sleep can lead to adult bed-wetting. 

14: Night terrors 

A night terror is a sleep disorder described by tremendous terror and a temporary incapability to regain full consciousness. The patient wakes up suddenly from slow-wave sleep. This is usually accompanied by out of breath, complaining, or screaming. It is often impossible to fully awaken the person, and after the event the patient usually settles back to sleep without waking. 

A night terror can rarely be recalled by the patient. Night terrors are different from nightmares. Often times it can be extremely dangerous for the person, for it can cause trauma, and can even hurt someone. 

15: Hypersomnia 

The disorder is made up of phases of cruel sleepiness. These periods of sleep can last for up to hours, days or even weeks. Before a person is hit with a hypersomnia attack, the patient suffers with flu like symptoms present and a long-term headache. The attack itself can cause a person to gain weight and sweat abundantly. Menstrual-Related Hypersomnia also occurs due to hormonal imbalances. 

16: Snoring 

Not all snoring is sleep apnoea  Snoring can cause severe sleep disorder to the sufferer as well to the person sleeping next to the sufferer. Snoring is the vibration of respiratory systems and the resulting sound is caused due to blocked air movement during breathing while sleeping. In some cases the sound may be soft, but in other cases, it can be loud and horrible. 

Snoring during sleep may be a sign, or first alarm, of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The only way to reduce this problem is by losing weight, changing your sleeping position and avoiding alcohol and other sedatives. 

17: Shift work sleep disorder 

It is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder that occurs when your work schedule and your biological clock are out of sync. Shift work sleep disorder (SWSD) is a circadian rhythm sleep disorder characterized by insomnia and excessive sleepiness affecting people whose work hours overlap with the typical sleep period. 

There are numerous shift work schedules, and they may be permanent, intermittent, or rotating; consequently, the manifestations of SWSD are quite variable. Simple ways to treat this sleep disorder is by taking regular breaks and regulating your sleep-wake cycle by increasing light exposure at work. 

18: Sexsomnia 

Sleep sex, or sexsomnia, is a situation in which a person will connect in sexual acts while still asleep. The symptoms of sexsomnia include fondling, heterosexual and homosexual intercourse, masturbation, and oral sex. Sometimes without the sleeper's knowledge, they even get into serious crimes like sexual assaults or even rape. 

It is difficult for sexsomniacs to recollect what they did last night. Sexsomnia is also a symptom which occurs in other sleep disorders like sleep apnea and night terrors. This sleep disorder is mostly activated by stress, physical touch by their bed partners and excessive consumption of alcohol. 

19: Sleep talking 

The symptoms of sleep talking can range from gibberish talks to long time sophisticated symptoms. Sleep talking can also be the symptom of another sleep disorder like REM or sleep terrors. Treatment isn't usually necessary—unless it's bothering your sleep partner. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is the best treatment or solution to mild sufferers. 

20: Insomnia 

People suffering from insomnia either have difficulty in sleep initiation, sleep continuation or both. It is a highly prevalent sleep disorder and can be transitional or primary. Transitional insomnia is a sleep disturbance caused due to stressful life circumstances and resolves once the stress is taken care of. 

Primary insomnia is poorly understood, long-term and is difficult to treat. Insomnia has an adverse impact on your mood, attention and concentration. Lifestyle changes and psychological treatments can help treat this condition.