Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders among teenagers. Before the pandemic, the rates of anxiety and depression among teens were on the rise, but recent CDC data suggests that mental health for teenagers has been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Increased pressure to succeed in school, living in the age of social media, and living in a society plagued with mass shootings and war coverage on the media are all factors that affect how teens cope with symptoms of anxiety. We can now add covid related stressors like social isolation, missed milestones, increases in family stress, and online school pressures to the list of factors that influence teens today. Teens are especially vulnerable to feeling the effects of these outside stresses because they are in a unique stage of life that is already filled with uncertainty and doubt within themselves. Being aware of what teens worry about, how to best support them, as well as what symptoms to look for that may signal the need for help are all important areas for parents and teachers to be aware of to lower teen risk factors for anxiety disorders.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a broad description of multiple different mental disorders. Some of the more common anxiety disorders are specific phobias, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, selective mutism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety can look different in different people, but it is generally an overreaction of the sympathetic nervous system, or fight, flight, or freeze response, so something that is perceived as a threat when it is not. Teens today worry about school performance, college admission and scholarships, others’ perceptions of them, and their changing bodies. Some amount of anxiety is normal and healthy, it motivates us to achieve and excel, but often the symptoms of anxiety can become overwhelming and lead to unhealthy effects on the brain and body. There are many outward symptoms of anxiety to look for in teens and different teens may have different combinations of symptoms. Some symptoms include:
How Can I Help My Teen?
Anxiety disorders may be on the rise, but the good news is that there is hope and help for teens who may be feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed by anxious thoughts and worries. Some good preventative measures can be helpful to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle that can lower a teen’s risk for developing an anxiety disorder but be aware that sometimes genetics play a larger role. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, social isolation, parental overprotection or parental indifference, a temperament prone to behavioral inhibition (fear-based temperament from childhood), high screen time, low physical activity, poor nutrition, and poor sleeping habits. Research suggests that teens with less than 2 hours of screen time have a significantly lower risk for anxiety and this is noteworthy. It may be due to the sleeplessness teens experience when they stay up too late watching videos or movies, or the lack of physical activity that occurs when teens spend too much time on screens, but it is something to pay attention to in lowering the risk of anxiety disorders. It is also important that teens are getting enough sleep, well-rounded nutrition, and regular physical activity to combat the effects of too much stress on their bodies. The best strategy for parenting teens who worry a lot is to acknowledge and empathize with the teens’ feelings while also not giving too much credit to the worry or fear. Showing your support for hard emotions is important but giving too much attention to worry can make it grow.
Even when all the preventative measures are taken, some teens have a predisposition to anxiety disorders and may need extra help to learn to manage and overcome the symptoms. Seeing a counselor who can help them learn to combat those anxious thoughts, and tolerate the discomfort through exposure, mindfulness, and coping skills will lead to a healthier and happier life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with mindfulness strategies has been shown to have great success in combatting anxiety. Medication may be needed by some as well to receive the full benefits of therapy. It is important not to ignore your teen’s overwhelming anxiety symptoms because untreated anxiety can lead to substance abuse, depression, and even suicidality. Children who are exhibiting behavioral inhibition, fear of strangers, or new activities, have a much higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder as a teen and young adult and would benefit from earlier treatment as a preventative measure. Anxiety is a normal part of life for everyone, and a certain amount can be beneficial, but when teens get overwhelmed and do not have the skills to cope or manage their symptoms, the problem can grow and become unmanageable. Offering support, modeling healthy habits, and encouragement of healthy lifestyle choices can make a big difference in preventing your teen from developing an anxiety disorder.
References
Anxiety among kids is on the rise. Wider access to CBT may provide needed solutions. (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/child-anxiety-treatment
Better ways to combat anxiety in youth. (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/combat-anxiety
Kim, S., Favotto, L., Halladay, J., Wang, L., Boyle, M. H., & Georgiades, K. (2020).
Differential associations between passive and active forms of screen time and adolescent mood and anxiety disorders. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric
Epidemiology, 55(11), 1469–1478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01833-9
Miller, C. (2022). How Anxiety Affects Teenagers. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers
The Crisis of Youth Mental Health | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/From-the-CEO/April-2022/The-Crisis-of-Youth-Mental-Health
General, O. of the S. (2021, December 7). U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic [Text]. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/07/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-youth-mental-health-crisis-further-exposed-by-covid-19-pandemic.html
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a broad description of multiple different mental disorders. Some of the more common anxiety disorders are specific phobias, panic disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, generalized anxiety, selective mutism, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anxiety can look different in different people, but it is generally an overreaction of the sympathetic nervous system, or fight, flight, or freeze response, so something that is perceived as a threat when it is not. Teens today worry about school performance, college admission and scholarships, others’ perceptions of them, and their changing bodies. Some amount of anxiety is normal and healthy, it motivates us to achieve and excel, but often the symptoms of anxiety can become overwhelming and lead to unhealthy effects on the brain and body. There are many outward symptoms of anxiety to look for in teens and different teens may have different combinations of symptoms. Some symptoms include:
- Recurring worries about many things, frequent need for reassurance
- Irritability or anger
- Perfectionism
- Body dissatisfaction
- Inability to focus
- Extreme self-consciousness and sensitivity to criticism
- Withdrawal from friends or activities
- Avoidance of stressful or new situations
- Frequent physical complaints
- Substance use
How Can I Help My Teen?
Anxiety disorders may be on the rise, but the good news is that there is hope and help for teens who may be feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed by anxious thoughts and worries. Some good preventative measures can be helpful to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle that can lower a teen’s risk for developing an anxiety disorder but be aware that sometimes genetics play a larger role. Risk factors include genetic predisposition, social isolation, parental overprotection or parental indifference, a temperament prone to behavioral inhibition (fear-based temperament from childhood), high screen time, low physical activity, poor nutrition, and poor sleeping habits. Research suggests that teens with less than 2 hours of screen time have a significantly lower risk for anxiety and this is noteworthy. It may be due to the sleeplessness teens experience when they stay up too late watching videos or movies, or the lack of physical activity that occurs when teens spend too much time on screens, but it is something to pay attention to in lowering the risk of anxiety disorders. It is also important that teens are getting enough sleep, well-rounded nutrition, and regular physical activity to combat the effects of too much stress on their bodies. The best strategy for parenting teens who worry a lot is to acknowledge and empathize with the teens’ feelings while also not giving too much credit to the worry or fear. Showing your support for hard emotions is important but giving too much attention to worry can make it grow.
Even when all the preventative measures are taken, some teens have a predisposition to anxiety disorders and may need extra help to learn to manage and overcome the symptoms. Seeing a counselor who can help them learn to combat those anxious thoughts, and tolerate the discomfort through exposure, mindfulness, and coping skills will lead to a healthier and happier life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy combined with mindfulness strategies has been shown to have great success in combatting anxiety. Medication may be needed by some as well to receive the full benefits of therapy. It is important not to ignore your teen’s overwhelming anxiety symptoms because untreated anxiety can lead to substance abuse, depression, and even suicidality. Children who are exhibiting behavioral inhibition, fear of strangers, or new activities, have a much higher risk of developing an anxiety disorder as a teen and young adult and would benefit from earlier treatment as a preventative measure. Anxiety is a normal part of life for everyone, and a certain amount can be beneficial, but when teens get overwhelmed and do not have the skills to cope or manage their symptoms, the problem can grow and become unmanageable. Offering support, modeling healthy habits, and encouragement of healthy lifestyle choices can make a big difference in preventing your teen from developing an anxiety disorder.
References
Anxiety among kids is on the rise. Wider access to CBT may provide needed solutions. (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/10/child-anxiety-treatment
Better ways to combat anxiety in youth. (n.d.). Https://Www.Apa.Org. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/combat-anxiety
Kim, S., Favotto, L., Halladay, J., Wang, L., Boyle, M. H., & Georgiades, K. (2020).
Differential associations between passive and active forms of screen time and adolescent mood and anxiety disorders. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric
Epidemiology, 55(11), 1469–1478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-020-01833-9
Miller, C. (2022). How Anxiety Affects Teenagers. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers
The Crisis of Youth Mental Health | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.nami.org/Blogs/From-the-CEO/April-2022/The-Crisis-of-Youth-Mental-Health
General, O. of the S. (2021, December 7). U.S. Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Youth Mental Health Crisis Further Exposed by COVID-19 Pandemic [Text]. HHS.Gov. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/12/07/us-surgeon-general-issues-advisory-on-youth-mental-health-crisis-further-exposed-by-covid-19-pandemic.html
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