Screens, social media, academic pressures, climate change, school violence, a pandemic…these are but a few of the many stressors facing teens today. As such, rates of anxiety in teens are on the rise. According to the National Institutes of Health, almost 1 in 3 of all adolescents, ages 13 to 18, will experience an anxiety disorder. Between 2007 and 2012, anxiety disorders in children and teens increased 20% and the COVID 19 pandemic did not help.
Anxiety, commonly defined as a feeling of worry or nervousness about an upcoming event or something that is uncertain, is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, anxiety often encourages us to focus, perform better (before a performance or sporting event), or make good choices (by assessing for safety in a possibly risky situation such as getting into a friend’s car if they have been drinking).
Feeling anxious is normal; however, for some teens it is lasting and does not go away, or becomes so intense that it gets in the way of doing everyday things (such as sleep, school, and friends). Symptoms of anxiety may present in a variety of ways, including worried thoughts, irritability, restlessness, inability to concentrate, feeling on edge, difficulty remembering, avoidance, and tiring easily. Anxiety can also present with physical symptoms, such as a stomachache, a headache, tense muscles, sleeplessness, and sweating.
While some teens may require the evaluation of a medical/mental health professional, here are some parenting strategies that can buffer some of the effects of anxiety:
- Validate feelings, even if you don’t know where they are coming from! Take their emotions seriously and try to listen and understand. Dismissive statements like, “You have nothing to worry about…” and “You will be fine” should be replaced with “I can tell you are worried” or “How are you feeling about…”
- Move towards anxiety. Total avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations will reinforce worries. Slowly and safely facing fears may weaken anxiety. Break things down into manageable components and express confidence in your teen, and your ability to support them whatever the challenge may be.
- Model ways to manage anxiety. We have all experienced anxiety, so showing your child and telling them about times you experienced anxiety will help them see that they can overcome obstacles. Our emotions rub off on our teens!
- Make distraction-free time to talk to your teen every day. Show them empathy and unconditional love.
- Be mindful of the expectations and pressures you are putting on your teen. A rising emphasis on a “culture of achievement”, which places high expectations on children to reach their potential, can also cause teens to become anxious. Parents should guide teens to be realistic and remember there is more to life than achievement. Prioritizing mental and physical health, and remembering that teens also need down time, can help manage stress and anxiety in adolescents.
All Blogs are written by Professionals in the fields of Nutrition, Human Development and Diabetes.