Adolescent Anxiety: 5 Ways to Support Your Teen when They’re Stressed
Jun 24, 2024
Anxiety disorders are the most common psychological disorder that affects both children and adolescents. In fact, research suggests that 1 in 3 adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder by the time they’re 18.
It’s common for teenagers to feel stressed, and sometimes that little bit of extra anxiety can motivate them to do well at school or excel in sports and other extracurricular activities. However, if that anxiety lingers and begins to hinder their ability to perform daily functions, your teen may have an anxiety disorder.
Because anxiety is so common in adolescents, our team of mental health specialists at Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry in Greenwich, Connecticut, want to help you, as a parent, know what anxiety looks like for teens, understand some possible causes for their anxiety, and offer some ways you can help them cope.
When young children struggle with anxiety, it’s often triggered by fear of the dark, monsters, or something bad happening to their parents. However, teenage anxiety can be a little more complex.
In addition to factors like genetics, brain chemistry, and traumatic life events, anxiety for teens can be brought on by these common experiences:
In addition, many teenagers struggle with test anxiety, especially since a lot of pressure is typically associated with big tests such as the ACT or SAT exams.
It’s not uncommon for teenagers to want to hide their feelings, so if your teen is more reserved, you may not even realize they’re severely anxious. Or maybe they’ve started lashing out at everyone due to such heightened emotions.
These are some common anxiety symptoms that are often seen in adolescents:
In addition, they may have physical symptoms such as nausea, headaches, racing heartbeat, shaking, and sweating.
It can be difficult watching your child struggle with anxiety, so here are some healthy ways you can help them through it:
Something that’s incredibly unhelpful for anyone living with anxiety is to tell them to simply not worry. Many of those negative emotions are impossible to control and can’t be wished away. Instead, talk through the feelings with the individual and let them know that what they’re feeling is valid.
While it’s good to want your child to succeed, make sure those goals aren’t too lofty for them to achieve. Also, keep in mind that teens still need time to relax and be with their peers, and that there’s much more to life than achievements alone.
If your child is anxious, they may start to leave healthy habits by the wayside, which can worsen their anxiety as a result. Encourage them to eat a healthy diet, move their body regularly, and get plenty of sleep each night.
Your teen may look to you for how to regulate their emotions and handle their anxiety, whether they realize it or not. By being a positive role model for self-care, you can set your teen up for success. This includes handling big emotions with care, practicing relaxation techniques regularly, and avoiding negative self-talk.
If you feel like you can’t give the support your teen needs, or if you think they might benefit from supplemental help, our team at Greenwich Avenue Psychiatry offers psychiatric services for adolescents. Your teen may find psychotherapy, or talk therapy, helpful, and we can also prescribe medication if necessary. We specialize in knowing how psychiatric medications affect adolescents, so we can prescribe the correct type and dosage.
For more information on how we can partner with you to support your teen through an anxiety disorder, schedule a consultation by calling our office or booking online today.