Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but sometimes what may seem like usual teenage struggles can actually be a sign of a more severe anxiety disorder

All teenagers experience some amount of anxiety at times. I know I did! But getting help with teenage anxiety in Beaconsfield, in the 80's wasn't easy!

Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, and sometimes it helps teens deal with tense or overwhelming situations.

For many teens, things like public speaking, final exams, important competitions, or even going out on a date can cause feelings of apprehension and uneasiness. They may also experience an increase in heartbeat or excessive sweating. That’s simply how the brain responds to anxious feelings.

For some teens, however, anxiety can go beyond these typical symptoms to negatively affect friendships and family relationships, participation in extracurricular activities, and even their schoolwork.

When feelings of anxiety interfere with normal daily living, the presence of an anxiety disorder should be considered.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 25% of 13- to 18-year-olds have an anxiety disorder, and just under 6% have a severe anxiety disorder.

Concerned about Generalised Anxiety Disorder?

Given that teenagers experience a wide variety of physical and emotional changes as they grow, an anxiety disorder can be difficult to spot. Many red flags may seem like usual teenage struggles or be chalked up to hormones.

Watch for these hidden signs of anxiety in your teens emotional changes. While some anxious teenagers express feelings of pervasive worry, others experience subtle emotional changes such as:

Feeling on edge

Irritability

Difficulty concentrating

Restlessness

Unexplained outbursts

Social changes

Anxiety can negatively affect friendships. If your once social teenager suddenly avoids his favourite activities or stops making plans with friends, think twice.

You might notice your child:

Avoiding social interactions with usual friends

Avoiding extracurricular activities

Isolating from peer group

Spending increased time alone

Physical changes

Many of the physical complaints that can occur with an anxiety disorder mimic average teen complaints, which tend to increase as they get older. Pay attention to patterns. A couple of headaches here and there shouldn’t be a cause for concern, for example, but frequent headaches are a red flag.

Watch for these common psychosomatic complaints:

Frequent headaches, including migraines

Gastrointestinal problems

Unexplained aches and pains

Excessive fatigue

Complaints of not feeling well with no obvious medical cause

Changes in eating habits.

Sleep disturbance

Most studies recommend that teenagers aged 13 to 18 get 8 to 10 hours of sleep on a regular basis to promote optimal health. Similarly, recommend shutting down screens 30 minutes prior to bedtime, and removing all electronics from the bedroom.

It’s no big secret that homework demands, changing brain structure, extracurricular activities, and screen time can all cut into the sleep habits of teens. Therefore, it can be difficult to know whether fatigue is a product of anxiety or of a busy schedule. Watch for these red flags:

Difficulty falling asleep

Difficulty staying asleep

Frequent nightmares

Not feeling refreshed after sleep

Poor school performance

Given that anxiety can affect everything from sleep habits to eating habits to missing school due to physical issues, it should come as no surprise that poor academic performance can also result from untreated anxiety. School avoidance, missed days due to anxiety-related illness, and persistent worry can make it difficult for anxious teens to keep up with their workload. Watch for these changes in your teen:

Significant jump in grades (usually downward)

Frequently missed assignments

Describes feeling overwhelmed by workload

Procrastinates on, or has difficulty concentrating on, homework assignments more than usual

Symptoms of panic attacks

Not all anxious teens experience panic attacks, and some experience mild symptoms of panic without enduring a full panic attack. The following symptoms are common among people with anxiety disorders:

Rapid heartbeat

Sweating and trembling

Dizziness

Upset stomach

Difficulty breathing

Chest pain

Feeling like they’re dying

Feeling like they’re “going crazy”

Numbness or tingling in arms and legs

If your teenager appears to be struggling with anxiety that interferes with school, friendships, family relationships, or other areas of daily functioning, it’s important to consider professional help.

Anxiety is treatable, and most teenagers can learn to cope with and manage their anxiety independently. Should you feel the need to consider non-medical intervention first, Rapid Transformational Therapy (integrated hypnotherapy) is an effective and safe way to find the underlying reason or cause of teenage anxiety, and resolve it.

If you'd like to have talk to me about Rapid Transformational Therapy, or book in a free discovery session at my clinic pace in Seer Green, Buckinghamshire, please send me an email to christianhburne@gmail.com.