Parenting a teenager is often challenging considering the emotional and cognitive changes many teens experience. When you add anxiety into the already tumultuous teen years, you have a situation that might seem harrowing, and yet anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders suffered by teenagers.
Fortunately, there are ways you and your teenager can overcome mental health obstacles for a healthier, happier way of living. For instance, I can provide you with a wide range of services geared toward helping you learn how to cope with teen anxiety. Aside from therapy based treatments, there are other ways you can assist your teen, such as learning the signs and symptoms of anxiety and figuring out the best ways to tackle anxiety problems when they arise.
Signs of Teenage Anxiety
It is common for a teen to worry about friends, family, sports, grades, social interactions, and a wide range of other problems they are likely to face. However, there is a specific difference between feeling worried or concerned and excessive or irrational fears, worry, or concern. Signs that your teenager suffers from anxiety may include the following:
- Excessively or consistently displays signs of fear, worry, or concern (example: grades, approval of adults and peers, social interactions, etc.)
- Low self-esteem (seems to use a lot of self-deprecating or highly critical statements when referring to his or herself)
- Consistently seeks approval from others (parents, teachers, peers, etc.)
- Consistently ensures accuracy in work completed (schoolwork, homework, chores, etc.)
- Avoids social interactions
Although the signs listed above are not exclusive to any form of teen anxiety disorder, they often exist when a teen suffers from any form of generalized anxiety. If you notice any of the signs listed above, contact me for assistance in learning how to cope with teen anxiety.
Symptoms of Teenage Anxiety
Teens who suffer from anxiety may often display physical or mental symptoms that indicate there is a problem. Make sure you keep your eye out for any of the following symptoms:
- Irritability or mood swings
- Inability to sleep or sleep disturbances
- Persistent complaints of severe headaches
- Consistently feeling nauseated
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
- Choking feeling
- Inability to concentrate
- Muscle tension
- Digestion issues
The symptoms listed above are just some of the symptoms often associated with anxiety disorders and anxiety attacks. Contact me if you recognize any of the symptoms of anxiety. Although anxiety is not life threatening, it could lead to other concerning physical and mental health issues.
By contacting a therapist like myself, you are enabling yourself to learn more about how best to cope with teen anxiety so that you and your teenager can experience a brighter, more satisfying future together.
Coping Mechanisms
For starters, your teenager’s anxiety should not give you a reason to avoid social functions or other instances that may trigger your teen’s anxiety. In fact, avoiding triggers will not help your teen in any way at all. Instead, speak to your teen in an encouraging manner. Ensure him or her that everything will be okay, and you are there to assist if necessary.
By offering encouragement and support, you are doing your teen a far more solid favor than if you were to enable your teen’s anxiety through avoidance. The goal is to assist your teenager in overcoming feelings of anxiety so he or she can enjoy day-to-day activities in a healthy manner. Make it a point to practice breathing exercises or even yoga with your child to help create an internal balance and sense of calm.
Therapy is another recommended way to learn the ways in which you can cope with teen anxiety. My therapy services provide one-on-one interactions with your teenager as well as family interactions with all of you together. Through therapy based treatments, I assist you in finding the best methods necessary to help your teenager overcome feelings of anxiety.
In truth, anxiety can ruin a positive moment, or it can turn a perfectly good day into a horrible one. I can enable you and your teenager to learn the best ways to cope with teen anxiety so you can get back to enjoying the little things in life. Rather than allowing yourself to stress over such a situation, contact me to find out how I can best assist you and your teenager today.
