Anxiety is normal among all individuals, especially teens. Anxiety for teens can be caused by many things, such as schoolwork, grades, the people you choose to hang out with, sports, hobbies, what we want to do with our lives, hormones, health, and so much more. Anxiety can even help us with our fight, flight, and freeze responses. So really, anxiety can help us protect ourselves.
Anxiety can also be a warning sign of things to be cautious, such as who we are friends with or what our friends may want us to do. It is important to learn how to manage your anxiety early in life so that it does not hold you back in adulthood. Know that you are not alone and that there are ways to manage your anxiety through these years of being a teen.
Symptoms of anxiety in teens:
- Irritability
- Trouble with concentration
- Avoidance behaviors
- Low self-esteem
- Not wanting to be around friends or family
- Bad grades
- Physical symptoms such as headaches
- Problems with sleep
- Feelings of stress or depression
Steps to conquer your anxiety:
Try not to think, “oh I am just anxious and that’s how it will always be”. Instead, try to see all other possibilities such as, I can do better, and I can manage these things in order to lower anxiety.
- Be mindful of what causes your anxiety
Are you anxious when you take a test or play in a game? Do you become overwhelmed when talking to friends? Learning what causes your anxiety can help you actually use it to your advantage to do better.
- Start each day on a positive note
This can be eating a healthy breakfast, meditating, or using deep breathing exercises, going for a walk, or journaling your thoughts and emotions.
- Take a cool shower
There are many benefits to taking a cool shower. A shower can help wake us up, relieves stress, and can help us clear our minds. This can be a great way to observe how we feel.
Facing your fears may create more anxiety at first, but this repetitive action will help alter your brain to be more positive and willing to explore new and hard things. This can also help you identify and conquer your goals.
- Seek help from a therapist
Be mindful of your mental health and advocate for it. The younger you normalize mental health, the more you will make it a priority later in life. Therapy is a great tool to help you manage anxiety and identify techniques to lower anxiety on your own.
Persistent anxiety in teens can cause:
- Anxiety disorders
- Mood disorders
- Eating disorders
- Self-destructive behaviors
- Depression
- Panic disorders
- & More
It may seem overwhelming at times to have so much anxiety. When we get older and have more responsibilities and decisions to make, it can seem like we have more anxiety. Anxiety is not always a bad thing. Anxiety can warn us when we are in bad situations, and it can also push us past our nerves to achieve great things. Do you experience irritability, low self-esteem, trouble concentrating, large amounts of stress, etc.?
This may be a sign that you are experiencing anxiety. Be willing to address your anxiety and what is causing it. The more you are mindful and understand how your anxiety is affecting you now, the more you will be able to manage it later in life. Remember to take time for yourself and create a self-care routine that will help you manage your busy teenage life. If you feel like you are consistently struggling with anxiety and are experiencing panic attacks, mood fluctuation, or depression, reach out to a trained counselor or social worker for help.
