Frequently Asked Questions About Anxiety In Teens

Do you have an anxious teenager? Here are some frequently asked questions about anxiety in teens, from a Christian counselor in California.

What is normal anxiety in teens, and what is not?

Anxiety is a common human response to stress that serves as a built-in warning system to help you identify potential threats, increase your alertness, and give you a boost of energy that enables you to react faster in an emergency. Its purpose is to capture your attention and spur you on to respond in a protective way, such as confronting or escaping the perceived danger.

Normal anxiety in teens is a temporary feeling of unease, worry, or fear triggered by a specific, imminent event with an uncertain outcome, such as feeling anxious before an important exam, a job interview, a doctor’s appointment, or a first date.

While uncomfortable, it does not usually interfere with their ability to perform day-to-day activities in any significant way and typically goes away once the stressful situation is over.

Anxiety in teens becomes cause for concern; however, when it becomes overwhelming, persists even after there is no longer any obvious cause for it, and interferes with their ability to focus on schoolwork, participate in social or extracurricular activities, or even complete their routine, everyday tasks.

Is there a difference between anxiety in teens and anxiety in younger children?

Yes, children have different worries and vulnerabilities at different stages of development, and anxiety in teens presents differently than it does in younger kids. Young children tend to be anxious about external things such as the darkness, monsters under their bed, getting shots, loud noises, or something bad happening to their parents.

Teens are more likely to worry about themselves, feeling anxious about their changing bodies, what other people think about them, and about not doing well enough in sports or school.

What causes anxiety in teens?

Adolescence can be a stressful time for teens. Not only are their brains still developing, but they are also going through a time of rapid growth and hormonal changes, as well as being exposed to new experiences and challenges as they become more independent.

Some common causes of anxiety in teens include:

• Increased pressure to do well at school, sports, and/or other extracurricular activities.
• Self-consciousness about the changes in their bodies.
• How they are viewed by others.
• being judged by their peers.
• Perceived physical flaws.
• Being seen as stupid or incompetent.
• Feeling different or out of step with others in their circle.
• Doing something embarrassing.
• Living in a scary world.
• Fear of the unknown.
• The negative effect social media can have on their self-esteem.

What are the symptoms of anxiety in teens?

Symptoms of anxiety in teens can vary from teenager to teenager. Some may avoid activities or experiences, for instance, whereas others may be irritable and lash out at the people around them. Sometimes symptoms can be missed because teens are good at hiding their feelings.

The following are some common red flags:

• Excessive worry about everyday activities and future events.
• Trouble concentrating, remembering things, and/or having their mind go blank.
• Irritability, edginess, or inner restlessness.
• Easily fatigued.
• Extreme self-consciousness and sensitivity to criticism.
• Isolating.
• Withdrawing from friends, activities, and social situations.
• Unexplainable physical symptoms such as chronic headaches, stomachaches, or muscle tension.
• Trouble sleeping.
• A sudden drop in school performance.
• Trouble starting or finishing projects, such as schoolwork.
• Compulsive nail biting.
• Use of alcohol or recreational drugs like marijuana to help them cope and make it through the day.

If, after reading this list, you are still unsure whether your teen is suffering from anxiety, look for a pattern of persistent symptoms that have lasted for more than two weeks, and that are impacting his or her ability to function in his or her day-to-day life and are causing avoidance behavior and/or distress.

What can I do to help my teen deal with their anxiety?

Encourage your teen to talk about their anxiety and validate their feelings without being judgmental or preachy. Let him or her know that they are loved unconditionally by you and by God.

Help them develop resiliency by learning how to handle challenging situations rather than avoiding them, and by teaching them how to develop healthy coping skills while modeling them yourself.

At its core, anxiety is the result of faulty ways of thinking that have become habitual. Habits can, however, be changed. One biblically sound way is to help your teen train his or her brain to stay in the present instead of being anxious about the future.

Jesus exhorts us to stay focused on the present moment rather than be anxious about what tomorrow will bring. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:25-34).

3 x 5 + 1 grounding exercise The 3 x 5 + 1 exercise is one way of helping your teen learn how to stay focused on the moment instead of being anxious about the future.

Start by having them name five things they can see right now; five sounds they can hear (it can include sounds they create, such as a hand clap or a whistle); and five things they can touch. These three questions will help your teen shift their focus from worrying about the future to focusing on the present moment.

Once they have done that, ask a fourth question: “What is one thing you can think about or do right now?” For instance, if your teen has been feeling anxious about failing an upcoming test, one thing they can do right now is prepare for it by studying.

To be effective, this grounding exercise needs to be repeated several times a day until it becomes second nature. Repetition is what rewires the brain’s neural pathways to replace old habitual thinking patterns with new ones. It is a process that can take at least a couple of months, and consistency is key to its success.

Another way you can help your teen is by looking at yourself and your own level of anxiety. Family history is one of the greatest predictors of anxiety in teens. Studies have shown that teenagers with one parent who has any kind of anxiety disorder are more likely to experience anxiety than other kids.

If you struggle with anxiety, practice the above technique together with your teen. Not only will it help you overcome your own anxious thoughts, but it will also help strengthen the bond between you and your child.

What is the most effective treatment for anxiety in teens?

The two most effective treatments for anxiety in teens are cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Both are considered first-line, evidence-based, gold standard treatment modalities.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) Cognitive behavioral therapy teaches teens about the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; helps them recognize, challenge, and reframe irrational thought patterns that are contributing to their anxiety; and equips them with coping skills that enable them to respond to triggers in healthier ways.

Exposure therapy Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps teens face their anxiety instead of avoid it, by gradually increasing exposure to feared objects, situations, or activities in a safe, controlled way that retrains their brains and gradually decreases their symptoms of anxiety as they discover that what they are anxious about is not as scary as they thought it would be, and that they can cope with it.

If you have questions about this article on anxiety in teens or would like to set up a risk-free appointment with one of the faith-based counselors at our location to discuss how he or she can help with your teen’s anxiety, please give us a call.