The teenage years are a challenging time for any young person. The transition from childhood to adolescence can be incredibly complicated due to physical and hormonal changes, an expanding social environment, and increased independence from parents. For most teens, these changes, new interests, and goals invite anxiety and uncertainty. While some teens are able to navigate through these changes, there are others who experience difficulties and suffer from high levels of anxiety.

Teen Anxiety: When Is It Helpful and Harmful?

It is normal for teens to worry and feel anxious, especially during nerve-wracking situations. Teen anxiety is a natural and important emotion in reaction to stress. Things like sports competitions, public speaking, first dates, or exams can make any teenager feel jittery, apprehensive, or uneasy. Feeling anxious can be a good thing if it serves as a motivator to overcome a stressful situation or a warning sign that a situation may be unsafe.

At other times, anxiety can be harmful, especially when it becomes excessive and unwarranted. With the great number of academic and social stressors, and sometimes stress within the family, anxiety can affect a teen’s physical and emotional well-being and become a significant and chronic disorder. If left untreated, anxiety can interfere with a teenager’s daily functioning and stand in the way of their goals. The generalized feeling of nervousness or uneasiness may even escalate to severe levels of panic or phobias.

Identifying the Probable Causes of Teen Anxiety

It’s quite impossible to narrow down any single specific cause for teen anxiety. Often there are many potential contributing or complicating factors involved, and in some cases, they influence one another. Understanding how anxiety works in your child is essential to find the appropriate treatment.

Genetics can play a big role in causing anxiety. A new study suggests that anxiety may be caused by a specific gene responsible for regulating appetite, pain, and mood during adolescence. About 25% of people have the tendency to develop an anxiety disorder in their teen years, which can be effectively treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Other known factors that may contribute to teen anxiety include hormonal shifts, stressful life events, a tense home environment, and alcohol or substance use. It can be said that teens have a lot of reasons to feel angst that are often misunderstood. In most cases, that angst is rooted in anxiety.

The Symptoms That Tell If Your Teen Has Too Much Anxiety

The symptoms of teen anxiety disorders vary from person to person and may be concealed by the high-functioning lifestyle of teenagers. In a generation that places so much emphasis on achievement and success, many teens engage in rigorous activities as an attempt to reach the top. Often, high achievement results in anxiety, which can be masked until the condition has already become debilitating.

There are, however, a number of classic psychological and physical symptoms that can indicate if your teen has heightened anxiety:

• Feeling afraid or worried without apparent cause. Teens generally feel anxious due to specific reasons like being around new friends. If the teenager feels anxious for no obvious reason, it can indicate an anxiety disorder.
• Intermittent checking to make sure everything is right. Frequent and repeated checking of things over and over is a sign of excessive anxiety.
• Excessive worrying and apprehension about everyday events or activities that are not out of the ordinary.
• Extreme fears about certain situations, such as oral examinations or meeting people.
• Muscle tension, trembling or sweaty hands, racing heartbeat, distraction, always being on guard, and feeling an uncontrollable urge to cry are all signs of the “fight or flight” response.
• Other symptoms include changes in diet and sleep patterns, a tendency to avoid people and activities previously enjoyed, and difficulty concentrating.

Counseling: An Investment in Your Teenager’s Emotional Health

Adolescence is a time of self-discovery, setting goals, and having fun. A lot of challenges are coming right around the corner for young adults. If anxiety symptoms are preventing your teen from making the most of these exciting years, find out what kind of help is best for your child.

No other person knows your child better than you do. Trust your gut if you feel that their anxiety has become a problem. As soon as their symptoms start affecting many aspects of their life, it’s worth getting professional help. Seeking treatment is an investment in your child’s emotional health.

Carolina Counseling Services – Sanford, NC, contracts independently with counselors who specialize in teen anxiety. Within the safe, relaxing, and nonjudgmental environment of CCS, therapists can help your child learn to function like a normal teenager and discover ways to manage difficult emotions and stressful situations. Schedule an appointment by making a call now!