Understanding Teen Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Help
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During adolescence, teens experience considerable development while dealing with numerous changes that make their anxiety stronger. While some anxiety serves as a motivator, it can become overwhelming when it disrupts daily activities. Some anxiety is a normal part of growing up, but certain teens experience overwhelming, disruptive anxiety. Understanding the details and what you can do if your teen is experiencing this will help you find the most effective support methods.
What is Anxiety?
Our bodies react with anxiety as a natural defence against perceived dangers or stressful conditions. The human mind experiences worry, apprehension, or nervousness about upcoming events. Teenagers typically experience nervousness right before important events such as exams, sports matches, or big social gatherings. The body uses these brief anxiety responses to ready itself for approaching challenges, although the feelings tend to be short-lived. The persistence of anxiety that is disproportionate to the situation or has negative effects on school, social relationships, and daily enjoyment may signal the presence of an anxiety disorder.
Common Causes of Teen Anxiety
Multiple elements contribute to the development of teen anxiety because its causes are complex in nature. The need to excel academically while getting admission to quality universities creates a substantial amount of pressure on students. The social dynamics between peers, together with their problems and social media influence, can play a significant role in this process. Plus, the pressure to match up to the seemingly perfect online life of others affects many teenagers.
Other contributing factors can include:
Biological factors: The combination of genetic and brain chemical influences could be responsible for anxiety disorders that occur within families.
Hormonal changes: The major hormonal transformations of adolescence lead to changes in both mood and anxiety patterns.
Environmental stressors: The combination of stressful life events, such as family problems, bereavement, or abuse/trauma activate or worsen anxiety symptoms.
Teens who lack proper stress management techniques tend to develop anxiety problems because they do not have appropriate coping strategies.
Recognising the Symptoms
Teenagers experience anxiety in various ways, with symptoms appearing as emotional responses, physical indicators, and behavioural challenges. It can sometimes be difficult for others to detect warning signs as many teens develop excellent skills to hide their emotions.
Emotional and Mental Symptoms
Excessive worrying about regular matters and impossible scenarios.
Experiencing feelings of agitation, tension, and restlessness, which makes them feel on edge.
Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank.
Irritability or being easily fatigued.
Excessive sensitivity towards criticism and intense self-consciousness.
Becoming fixated on negative ideas and making the worst possible predictions.
Fear that something terrible is going to happen.
Behavioural Symptoms
Choosing to stay away from social events, school, or other challenging or unfamiliar situations.
Staying away from loved ones and not participating in activities they once enjoyed.
A significant decline in academic performance and refusal to attend school.
Challenges beginning or completing academic assignments.
Changes in sleeping habits (sleeping too much or problems falling asleep).
Changes in eating habits (eating more or less than usual).
Seeking repeated reassurance.
Repeating certain behaviours.
Substance or alcohol use.
Physical Symptoms
Unexplained pain in the neck, shoulders, and back.
Unexplained headaches and stomach aches.
Shortness of breath or a racing heart.
Feeling dizzy, shaky, or sweaty.
Nausea or 'butterflies' in the stomach.
Jitteriness, nail-biting, or skin-picking.
How to Help a Teenager with Anxiety
A teen experiencing anxiety needs support through creating a secure space that understands their situation. Create an opportunity for your teen to discuss their anxieties by speaking openly and actively listening without criticism. Sometimes, simply speaking about the anxious triggers can reduce the severity of their feelings.
The Grove Counselling & Therapy provides professional support to help your teenager achieve better well-being through teenage counselling and specialised anxiety counselling. Get in touch with us to learn more about our services and how we can assist your teen in their mental health development.