Symptoms of anxiety in teens
Teens have different worries than children; they become more concerned about their performance in school/sports/the arts, how they are perceived by others, changes in their bodies/health and about the future. Adolescence is a time when individuals are moving towards independence which means that they might be working hard to deal with the anxiety on their own or with the help of their friends. This might mean that a parent misses the signs that the anxiety is a problem or mistakes the symptoms as 'typical teenage behaviour.'
The following is a list of some of the symptoms that you might see in your anxious teen:
irritability
restlessness
difficulty concentrating
gets startled/scared easily
outbursts
anger
self-consciousness
sensitivity to feedback or criticism
avoiding difficult or new situations
no longer doing the things they enjoy
avoiding friends or social outings
isolation
frequent complaints of headaches, aches, gastrointestinal complaints, or generally not feeling well with no medical cause
changes in eating habits
changes in sleep habits or always tired
substance use (vaping, smoking, drinking alcohol, marijuana etc)
skipping school
changes in their grades
overwhelmed by school
procrastinates
preoccupied with grades
spending too much time on schoolwork
Is your teen dealing with anxiety and what to do
It can be hard to determine whether your teen is dealing with anxiety or if they are navigating through adolescence because some of the behaviours look the similar. Regardless of what it is, if you're concerned about your teen keep the lines of communication open, remember that it's a difficult time for them and let them know you are there to support.
Some anxiety is normal, but when it disrupts one's life (school, work, family, socializing, activities, or health -sleeping, eating, pain, illness) a mental health professional can help. Please look into local mental health professionals in your community, or if you'd like to consult with me, please connect with me.