Mr. Kurt David Holm, LICSW, LADC

Anxiety is a generic name given to a variety of conditions characterized by unusual amounts of fear and worry, especially unrealistic fears and tension. People who suffer from anxiety often are aware that their fears are irrational, but that knowledge does not make the feeling of being scared and anxious go away. To qualify as anxiety, symptoms must last for 6 months or more and interfere with the way a person lives their daily life. Some cases may be mild, where, for example, a person simply avoids certain situations. Other cases can be severe enough to be disabling.

Some of the specific conditions covered under the general label of anxiety include:

• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Phobias
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Social phobia
• Panic disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is one of the most common disorders diagnosed in children. Nine percent of children in the USA have been diagnosed with ADHD. Symptoms, which include hyperactivity and difficulty maintaining focus or paying attention, can last into adulthood for some patients. Boys are four times as likely to be diagnosed as girls, although experts don't know why this is.

There are three main types of ADHD:

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive types show symptoms such as constant fidgeting, talking non-stop, touching everything, having trouble sitting still and waiting their turn, and interrupting others.
• Predominantly inattentive types tend to be distracted, get bored and wander off during tasks, forget things or instructions, daydream, and appear not to be listening. This type is sometimes misdiagnosed because they are not hyperactive and there are fewer behavior issues.
• Combined types show symptoms from both categories. This is actually the most common type of ADHD.

Self-harm occurs when people hurt their own bodies on purpose. People who self-harm may feel an emotional or psychological release after hurting themselves. This release can become a coping mechanism to deal with negative thoughts and feelings. While not a mental illness in itself, self-harm may be a response to abuse, trauma, or other mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Those who self-harm typically do not have suicidal intent, but are at a greater risk of attempting suicide. They may also conceal their self-harm from others, making their behavior and injuries all the more risky. Self-harm frequently arises in adolescence or adulthood. Some self-harm once, while others may self-harm more frequently and for longer periods of time.

People may self-harm by a variety of means, including cutting themselves with sharp objects, burning themselves with matches, or hitting and bruising themselves. Symptoms and signs of self-harming include:

• Scars or bandages
• Wearing of long sleeves or pants to conceal one's skin
• Expressions of worthlessness
• Frequent cuts or injuries
• Emotional and behavioral shifts