Description
Dr. Stephen Vandegriff
CHMN 301- B01
(Foundations of NextGen Ministry)
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D B P A
ISTURBING EHAVIOR APER SSIGNMENT
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I chose to look at anxiety in children and adolescents this week. According to Huberty,
anxiety offers a developmental psychology perspective for understanding and treating these
complex disorders as they manifest in young people.1 Anxiety comes to children and adolescents
with the brunt of the force when they are not in control of their circumstances. It could be what
they’re feeling before a test, on a first date, or after breaking up or irreparable relationship with a
boyfriend or girlfriend. Grant mentioned different types of anxiety but “the main anxiety
disorders that could be the focus of attention for clinicians and researchers include panic social
anxiety disorder (SAD), which is known as an excessive fear of being negatively evaluated in
social or performance situations and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), This is known as
excessive and uncontrollable worry that leads to somatic and cognitive symptoms of anxiety with
difficulty falling asleep.” Research has shown that girls are more at risk for this disorder and tend
to report more impairment as a result of their symptoms (Chapman, Mannuzza, & Fyer, 1995).
One reason why girls are more at risk for the development of anxiety (and depressive) disorders
is due to their vulnerability to stress.2
The study examined the utility of modifying the Social Anxiety Scale for Children—
Revised (SASC-R) for use with adolescents, and examined associations between adolescents'
social anxiety (SA) and their peer relations, friendships, and social functioning. Boys (n = 101)
and girls (n = 149) in the 10th through 12th grades completed the Social Anxiety Scale for
Adolescents (SAS-A) and measures of social support, perceived competence, and the number
and quality of their best friendships.3
1 Huberty, Thomas J. Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents Assessment, Intervention, and
Prevention. New York, NY: Springer, 2012. Print.
2 Grant, D.M. (2013). Anxiety in Adolescence. In: O'Donohue, W., Benuto, L., Woodward Tolle, L. (eds)
Handbook of Adolescent Health Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6633-
8_32.
3 Ibid
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In our video presentation, “Irrational beliefs during Adolescents” declared that worrying
should be more than an emotion that causes internal stress. Instead, it should be a signal that
initiates involvement.4
Examples
Observations of children with anxiety can be challenging because they often do not show
overt symptoms; the symptoms may not be frequent and may be more continuous than episodic,
until their puberty stages. In general, anxious children are not disruptive unless they are
experiencing comorbid disorders, such as agitated depression, panic attack symptoms, or
externalizing behaviors.5 I have never witnessed one, but I had to witness one anxiety attack
about 3 years ago with a 10th-grade teenage girl in my church. The episode happened in the car
right in the church parking lot and the sisters came to the office to call us. She was sweating,
breathing heavily and more rapidly, looking tired and worn out, was unable to speak, was
sensitive to her surroundings, shaking, rocked back and forth in the car, and was unable to focus
on anything other than crying and screaming. We asked her what was going on she didn’t answer
anyone, just looking straight at the ceiling; we called the emergency services and the officers
started chatting with her, and as they were talking to her and asking her to deep breathe in and
out for like three minutes, then she was able to calm down before they transported her to hospital
for further treatments. The doctor now told us it was an anxiety panic attack and that she was
worried about an irreparable relationship. And she was discharged that evening to go home and
to schedule an appointment for a counseling session and a follow-up.
4 Lesson 4 Video Presentation Irrational Beliefs During Adolescence.
5 Tolle, L. (eds) Handbook of Adolescent Health Psychology. Springer, New York, NY.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6633-8_32.
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Solutions
To bring solution to this disorder, there should be accurate diagnostic techniques,
appropriate intervention methods, counseling sessions, and empirically sound prevention
strategies should be applied, to clinically relevant coverage. Taking a deep breath and letting go
out feels good and releases tension.6 Most importantly, turning to God for He’s always present
and patiently waits for us to look to him for help. Our video presentation, “Misperceptions and
Irrational beliefs during Adolescence,” these talks about how irrational beliefs of teenagers raise
their anxiety level, their stress levels, and cause lower self-esteem. So, we need to know how to
deal with this misperception.7
Prevention of emotional and behavioral problems can be conceptualized from a
developmental psychopathology perspective in four ways: (a) prevention of the onset of mental
health problems or disorders when none existed originally, (b) prevention of the worsening of
current problems or disorders in terms of symptom severity and intensity, (c) prevention of one
disorder from evolving into another disorder, or (d) prevention of the development of comorbid
disorders. If problems do exist, prevention programs also seek to (a) alter a negative
developmental trajectory, (b) put the child onto a positive developmental trajectory, and (c)
mitigate possible long-term effects of a disorder. Prevention programs should focus on mitigating
the effects of risk factors and enhancing the role of protective factors. Ultimately, prevention
efforts should increase resilience and reduce the effects of vulnerabilities. Also, promote social
awareness of the importance of protective variables such as self-esteem, emotional skills, and
peer group social support in adolescence.8
6 Chen, J.-K., Wu, C., Chang, C.-W., and Wei, H.-S. (2020). Indirect effect of parental depression on school
victimization through adolescent depression. J. Affect. Disord. 263, 396–404. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.126.
7 Video presentation- Misperceptions and Irrational beliefs during Adolescence.
8 La Greca, A.M., Lopez, N. Social Anxiety Among Adolescents: Linkages with Peer Relations and
Friendships. J Abnorm Child Psychol 26, 83–94 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022684520514.
Conclusion.
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Biblical Response
Ultimately, the Biblical response that would help is to teach these children to
acknowledge that we were created in the image of God and he sees us and our children/youth
with great value. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13: 5) and He offers
peace that passes all human understanding. God gives us a remedy through His Son Jesus Christ,
His Word, and His world. We see this by looking at our minds, bodies, and spirits once more.
Anxiety comes from fear and fear is from the devil, anxiety is a spiritual battle. Satan is our
greatest enemy and the battlefield for all this is our mind. “For the weapons of our warfare are
not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10:
4KJV). We also need to transform by renewing our minds. Our video presentation this week says
Everything in life is a win-lose perspective, when life becomes cooperation and not a
competition, all parties benefit and the good of all mankind is pushed forward.9 (I Corinthians 1:
10). When fear and anxiety take shape in anyone’s life, it hinders the fulness of life, it paralyzes
and causes one to question moving forward in life. 2 Timothy 1: 7 says, “for God did not give us
a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of
sound judgement and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well balanced mind and
self-control].
9 Ibid
11 The Holy Bible (King James Version).
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In conclusion, lesson 5 video presentation “why we misperceive the nature of
Adolescence” says “parents who succeed with teens must have a sense of humor and instill in
their children, teens, and youth hope in them for the future.10 Take stock of the fears and anxiety
in your children and adolescence life today and they connect to the struggles they face and help
them overcome them in Him. When fear & anxiety begins to creep up into their lives, remind
them of who God is and what He is capable of. Take everything to God in prayer. Remember, all
things work together for good for those who love God and for those who have been called
according to his purpose.11 (Romans 8:28 NIV)
Bibliography
Chen, J.-K., Wu, C., Chang, C.-W., and Wei, H.-S. (2020). Indirect effect of parental
depression on school victimization through adolescent depression. J. Affect. Disord.
263, 396–404. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.126. Accessed February 2nd, 2023.
Grant, D.M. (2013). Anxiety in Adolescence. In: O'Donohue, W., Benuto, L., Woodward
Tolle, L. (eds) Handbook of Adolescent Health Psychology. Springer, New York, NY.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6633-8_32. Accessed February 2nd, 2023
10 Ibid
7
Huberty, Thomas J. Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents Assessment,
Intervention, and Prevention. New York, NY: Springer, 2012. Print. Accessed February
2nd, 2023
La Greca, A.M., Lopez, N. Social Anxiety Among Adolescents: Linkages with Peer
Relations and Friendships. J Abnorm Child Psychol 26, 83–94 (1998).
https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022684520514. Accessed February2nd, 2023
Lesson 4 Video Presentation Irrational Beliefs During Adolescence. Video Accessed
February 2nd, 2023
The Holy Bible (King James Version).
Video presentation- Misperceptions and Irrational beliefs during Adolescence. Accessed
February 2nd, 2023
