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Twice, I’ve had the insightful experience of viewing the documentary, ANGST and one time experiencing a virtual reality experience of a panic attack (which is an option the film offers when it is shown to a small group.)

One of the biggest culprits, for experiencing angst, particularly at the high-school level, is:  Homework

Even though we know that Finland doesn’t place a lot of emphasis on homework in the high-school years and still ranks high in the worldwide educational rankings, we still seem to be caught in the Homework Myth as Alfie Kohn calls it.

As I observe the large and unsustainable amounts of homework that high school clients are facing, I wonder when this hamster wheel will stop?

We’re dealing with record high rates of anxiety and depression but our educational system still keeps pushing…  In the film ANGST, the high-school students also talked about the overwhelm they feel from the pressure of school work, the pressure to get good grades and to be accepted into universities.  When I was a high-school student, one could be accepted into UBC with a C+/B average, and now you need straight A’s.

I thought the film ANGST did an excellent job of explaining what anxiety and depression feel like.  It also shared the perspective of parents of anxious and depressed kids, and how hard their parenting journey has been.  Michael Phelps, the Olympic athlete, also speaks openly and honestly about his anxiety and depression and how talking to close friends and family really helped him.

The film makers recommend this film for ages 10yrs. + . I think some ten year olds could really benefit and others might get more worried about getting worried, so it’s an individual decision as to whether or not you bring your ten year old.  I think most twelve year olds and older would benefit from seeing the film.  I also think it’s important to watch it with a parent so that it can be debriefed afterwards.

My Top Four Highlights/Take Aways of the Film ANGST

The film listed the following five most common core, base-level fears from which various anxieties arise:

inadequacy

failure

abandonment

judgement

rejection

If you think about children who were adopted, it makes sense that their core fear may well be abandonment, and their anxieties stem from this core fear.

For child who feels very fearful to give presentations, their core fear may be judgment or inadequacy.

For a perfectionist, their core fear is failure and the judgment that will follow.

When a relationship is ending or going through a rough time, this can trigger the core fear of rejection.

I like this quote which sums up our fears:

“All our fears, are fears of feelings.”

~ Christian Mickleson

Social Media keeps our kids stuck in a world of competition, even from the comfort of their own homes

When we were tweens and teens going through the ups and downs of friendships and social status hierarchies, we could take a break from it all within the comfort of our homes.  Nowadays, as a tween and teen, you’re thrown back into this competitive world the second you pick up your phone.  You’re receiving new Instagram messages and Snapchats showing everybody looking their best and hanging out in groups having an “amazing” time together.

A parent’s biggest mistake is rushing to judgement.  They may be minimizing or fixing. They maybe be saying or thinking “Everyone gets nervous, you’ll get over it.”

Kids need parents, with whom they can be open and can share their most vulnerable feelings.

One of the medical doctors in the film explained that in our society, we don’t see mental health conditions, such as anxiety, on the same level as “below the neck conditions”.  We minimize or dismiss signs of mental health disorders.

We need to keep open, empathic communication with our kids in order that they feel safe to express their feelings.  We need to be vulnerable and model how we share our feelings too.

As the film stated, if feelings aren’t expressed, and are unspoken, they are suppressed and they gain power.

If your child prefers to journal, or draw, then this is another healthy way of expressing thoughts and feelings.

Panic Attacks are a sudden feeling of acute and disabling anxiety

Panic attacks are very scary and give the feeling of being completely out of control.  To the person having the panic attack, one feels threatened and very scared.  One tries to regain control by going into fight, flight or freeze.  Avoidance is the easiest way to have control.   They are no accessible, logical, reasoning skills whilst in the midst of a panic attack.

In the virtual reality experience, after the film, we wore the VR “binoculars” and were taken through a situation where a student was having a panic attack about a test.  She was in her classroom and her teacher realized what was happening.  Through the VR experience, we could hear the student’s pounding heart, shallow breathing and we could imagine her eyes being dilated and watering with tears.  We could also hear all her negative self-talk.

The teacher came over to her and suggested she think about her happy place.  She also took her through some deep breathing exercises.  After a few minutes, the student was able to reset and calm herself.

Once the person has been able to calm down, and “turn off” the alarm in his/her brain, the frontal lobe can engage in logical thinking again.  The person can then see that they’re not really in danger, and the anxiety loses its power.

** It’s important to remember that we can’t rationalize with someone who is in the midst of a panic attack.

I think Angst is a really important film to creating greater awareness about anxiety and depression and I hope you will be able to attend tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 20th, 2019 at 7pm at the Kay Meek Theatre.  Bring your questions, and I, along with other local service providers, will be part of a panel answering questions and sharing in discussion, after the film.

Warmly,

PS.  If you found this article valuable, please forward to a friend or family member who may benefit.  If you would like to receive my free ebook: 8 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Your Child Is Anxious, click here.