Slow Processing Speed and Anxiety: What you need to know
Take a look at this great article by Understood.org.
It was shared on the Facebook page and I thought I would share it here too incase you missed it.
An extract from the article:
How Anxiety and Slow Processing Speed Fuel Each Other
When any of us feel anxious, we freeze for a moment. During that time, we’re not processing information as fast as we might otherwise be. We may take longer to respond, make decisions or size up situations.
That’s how anxiety can impact processing speed. But slow processing speed can also create feelings of anxiety.
Imagine a child sitting in class, taking a test. She sees her classmates moving quickly from problem to problem, while she trails behind.
That situation might create a lot of anxiety in the moment. It might even make her feel anxious before the next test. But the more anxious she becomes, the slower she gets.
It can be hard, then, to tell where the anxiety stops and the slow processing speed begins.
Chronic Anxiety and Slow Processing Speed
For some kids, the anxiety created by slow processing speed is contained to certain situations. But for a surprising number of them, it turns into a bigger problem. Kids may develop a chronic anxiety disorder that extends to multiple situations and areas of their lives.
When that happens, it’s important to seek professional treatment. Therapy can be very effective. Sometimes anxiety medication can also help.
How to Help With Slow Processing Speed and Anxiety
Slow processing speed can be a hidden issue. Parents and kids often don’t talk about it together, and others won’t always notice the problems or pay much attention to it.
That leaves kids internalizing their struggles rather than sharing them and self-advocatingfor the support they need. The end result: They feel like something is wrong with them, and nobody understands.
Anxiety is something kids may hold inside and not talk about. They may be hyperaware of their emotional struggles without talking about them. That can make them feel like they’re an island.
