Teens and Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms are rising in Teens.

What is Anxiety?

Intense and excessive worry and fear about everyday situations that interfere with your child’s daily performance. “ Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

Different types of Anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety: Excessive worrying or anxiety about everyday issues and situations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Excessive desire for orderliness, perfectionism, attention to detail, and a need for control in relating to others.

Panic Disorder: Unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear which may include physical symptoms like chest tightening, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal pain.

Social Phobia: Everyday social interactions cause an increase in anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment.

This information is provided for general education purposes only. The above is a short summary of different anxiety disorders, however, there are many symptoms and factors that need to be met in order to be diagnosed. Reach out to a Mental Health Provider if you are interested in diagnosis.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens:

Easily irritable especially around situations that bring them anxiety.
Difficulty controlling feelings of worry.
Irregular sleeping schedules, not being able to fall or stay asleep.
Feeling restlessness, wound up, or on edge.
Difficulty concentrating.
Racing heartbeat.
Trembling or shaking.
Feeling of being out of control.
Chest pain, and shortness of breath.
Feelings of self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively.

What can cause Anxiety in Teens?

The truth is teens are at a stage in their life where a lot of things are changing for them.

They may feel an increase in pressure to perform better at school or sports, they may even be rating their own popularity at school and trying to determine where they fit in.

Social Media can create a gap for teens where they fall into the comparison trap. They compare their life to the glimpse of what they see from others.

How can I help my Teen cope with their anxiety?

Talk with your teen, understanding what is causing them anxiety is the first step to getting them the help they need. Once you understand what is causing it, you are able to guide them through it.
- Are they worried about school performance?
- Is social media playing a part?
- Are there specific situations occurring causing discomfort?
Therapy can help teens understand what is causing their anxiety. It can also teach your teen different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that would usually cause anxiety symptoms to rise.
Mindfulness and Meditation have been shown to decrease anxiety symptoms in both teens and adults.
Medication sometimes is necessary to help a teen manage their anxiety until they are able to learn coping skills to handle the anxiety without medication. A healthcare provider will be able to determine if medication is necessary.

References:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

Anxiety symptoms are rising in Teens.

What is Anxiety?

Intense and excessive worry and fear about everyday situations that interfere with your child’s daily performance. “ Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

Different types of Anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety: Excessive worrying or anxiety about everyday issues and situations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Excessive desire for orderliness, perfectionism, attention to detail, and a need for control in relating to others.

Panic Disorder: Unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear which may include physical symptoms like chest tightening, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal pain.

Social Phobia: Everyday social interactions cause an increase in anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens:

Easily irritable especially around situations that bring them anxiety.

Difficulty controlling feelings of worry.

Irregular sleeping schedules, not being able to fall or stay asleep.

Feeling restlessness, wound up, or on edge.

Difficulty concentrating.

Racing heartbeat.

Trembling or shaking.

Feeling of being out of control.

Chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Feelings of self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively.

What can cause Anxiety in Teens?

The truth is teens are at a stage in their life where a lot of things are changing for them.

They may feel an increase in pressure to perform better at school or sports, they may even be rating their own popularity at school and trying to determine where they fit in.

Social Media can create a gap for teens where they fall into the comparison trap. They compare their life to the glimpse of what they see from others.

How can I help my Teen cope with their anxiety?

Talk with your teen, understanding what is causing them anxiety is the first step to getting them the help they need. Once you understand what is causing it, you are able to guide them through it.

Are they worried about school performance?

Is social media playing a part?

Are there specific situations occurring causing discomfort?

Therapy can help teens understand what is causing their anxiety. It can also teach your teen different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that would usually cause anxiety symptoms to rise.

Mindfulness and Meditation have been shown to decrease anxiety symptoms in both teens and adults.

Medication sometimes is necessary to help a teen manage their anxiety until they are able to learn coping skills to handle the anxiety without medication. A healthcare provider will be able to determine if medication is necessary.

Teens and Anxiety

Anxiety symptoms are rising in Teens.

What is Anxiety?

Intense and excessive worry and fear about everyday situations that interfere with your child’s daily performance. “ Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived imminent threat, whereas anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013)

Different types of Anxiety:

Generalized Anxiety: Excessive worrying or anxiety about everyday issues and situations.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Excessive desire for orderliness, perfectionism, attention to detail, and a need for control in relating to others.

Panic Disorder: Unexpected and repeated episodes of intense fear which may include physical symptoms like chest tightening, shortness of breath, dizziness, or abdominal pain.

Social Phobia: Everyday social interactions cause an increase in anxiety, fear, self-consciousness, and embarrassment.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens:

Easily irritable especially around situations that bring them anxiety.

Difficulty controlling feelings of worry.

Irregular sleeping schedules, not being able to fall or stay asleep.

Feeling restlessness, wound up, or on edge.

Difficulty concentrating.

Racing heartbeat.

Trembling or shaking.

Feeling of being out of control.

Chest pain, and shortness of breath.

Feelings of self-consciousness or fear that people will judge them negatively.

What can cause Anxiety in Teens?

The truth is teens are at a stage in their life where a lot of things are changing for them.

They may feel an increase in pressure to perform better at school or sports, they may even be rating their own popularity at school and trying to determine where they fit in.

Social Media can create a gap for teens where they fall into the comparison trap. They compare their life to the glimpse of what they see from others.

How can I help my Teen cope with their anxiety?

Talk with your teen, understanding what is causing them anxiety is the first step to getting them the help they need. Once you understand what is causing it, you are able to guide them through it.

Are they worried about school performance?

Is social media playing a part?

Are there specific situations occurring causing discomfort?

Therapy can help teens understand what is causing their anxiety. It can also teach your teen different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations that would usually cause anxiety symptoms to rise.

Mindfulness and Meditation have been shown to decrease anxiety symptoms in both teens and adults.

Medication sometimes is necessary to help a teen manage their anxiety until they are able to learn coping skills to handle the anxiety without medication. A healthcare provider will be able to determine if medication is necessary.

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