Anxiety
Anxiety's a natural human response when we perceive that we're under threat. It can be experienced through our thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.
What is an anxiety disorder?
Anxiety is what we feel when we are worried, tense or afraid – particularly about things that are about to happen, uncertainty or about things which we think could happen in the future.
Any one, of any age can experience anxiety. When that anxiety impacts significantly on day-to-day activities then this becomes a mental health problem.
Like all animals, human beings have evolved ways to help us protect ourselves from danger. This is commonly known as the Fight, Flight or Freeze response. This explains some of the responses you may see in a young person or adult in Scouts who experiences anxiety.
Many behaviours that we find challenging may be as a result of anxiety for example a young person at a Scout session who is worried about what is going to happen next may display challenging behaviour in order to seek some control and order. They may not know what is making them feel anxious or be able to express that to you.
Young Minds
If you’ve not experienced intense anxiety is can be hard to understand. This video from Young Minds may help you to understand.
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