Anxiety disorders

What’s the difference between anxiety and stress?

Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division

Stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably, and there is overlap between stress and anxiety. Stress is related to the same ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ response as anxiety, and the physical sensations of anxiety and stress may be very similar.

What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder?

Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division

Treatments: What Works?

It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.

Helping Your Child Cope with Back-to-School Anxiety

Anxious feelings are normal and expected during times of transition or change. This is especially true for children and teens going back to school, or for first-timers starting kindergarten.

What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, is an anxiety disorder that affects about 5% of the population. People with GAD worry excessively and uncontrollably about daily life events and activities. They often experience uncomfortable physical symptoms, including fatigue and sore muscles, and they can also have trouble sleeping and concentrating.

Helping Your Anxious Child or Teen

Here, you will find practical strategies and tools to help you manage your child's anxiety, whether your child is just beginning to show symptoms, or has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

Strategies for Children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Children with GAD become anxious whenever there is uncertainty or they are unsure about something. This is why kids with GAD worry about everything. Since most things in life are uncertain, there is always something to worry about!

What is CBT?

CBT, or cognitive-behavioural therapy, is a psychological treatment that was developed through scientific research. That is, all of the components of CBT have been tested by researchers to determine whether they are effective and that they do what they are intended to do.

Separation Anxiety Disorder: School refusal

For most children attending school is an enjoyable and exciting experience. For some, however, attending school may be overwhelming and is endured or avoided. These children may suffer from separation anxiety disorder (SAD) which manifests as school refusal.

Separation Anxiety Disorder

It is normal for children to sometimes feel anxious or insecure when separated from their parents or other important caregivers. Usually, such separation anxiety fades as they grow up and become more confident. If your child's separation anxiety continues to persist after the age of five and starts affecting his or her life, then your child may have separation anxiety disorder.

Stay Connected

Sign up for our various e-newsletters featuring mental health and substance use resources.

eVisions: BC's Mental Health and Substance Use Journal, a theme-based magazine
Healthy Minds/Healthy Campuses events and resources
Within Reach: Resources from HeretoHelp
Embody (formerly Jessie's Legacy) updates and news

Sign up now