Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges your teen can face. The difficulty with teen anxiety is twofold. For starters, symptoms typically look different than what you may see in adults. But the larger issue is that it can be hard to tell what is anxiety versus what is known as teen angst. Are they just going through a rough patch, or is something deeper going on?
Anxiety rarely announces itself, often showing up in hard-to-read ways. If you have been wondering whether your teen is struggling with anxiety, here are some signs worth paying attention to.
Avoidance of Activities They Used to Enjoy
One of the earliest red flags parents notice in their teen is a withdrawal from things that bring them joy. This may be a loss of interest in certain hobbies or athletic activities. You may notice less interest in hanging out with their usual friend group. Where they were once excited to do these activities, they now make excuses to stay home.
This avoidance is a very common anxiety response to combat feeling overwhelmed and avoid something that feels threatening. The nervous system cues us to steer clear of perceived danger. Over time, this avoidance can make their world feel pretty small and significantly impact their social engagement.
Unexplainable Physical Symptoms
A hallmark of teen anxiety is complaints of physical symptoms that their medical team cannot fully explain. Doctor visits lead to lab tests, which offer no conclusive answers. Anxiety is a whole-body experience, so the source of such problems may not show up in labs or images.
Common physical signs of anxiety in teens include:
- Frequent stomach aches or nausea, especially before a big event
- Regular headaches with no explanation
- Muscle tension
- Consistently feeling physically exhausted
- Racing heart rate or shortness of breath during periods of stress
- Sleep disturbances
Stuck in a Loop of Worst-Case Thinking
Have you noticed your teen catastrophizes situations regularly? Do they spiral into thinking the worst possible outcome will occur in normal, day-to-day activities?
Teens with anxiety often work in overdrive, looking for threats in every inch of their lives so they can prepare for the worst outcomes. This thought process occurs even when there is no immediate threat around. You may notice excessive worrying about grades or getting into college. There may be little tension with friendships that are projected as world-ending. Anxiety will cause them to search for constant reassurance or shut down altogether.
A Noticeable Shift in Mood and Behavior
Anxiety and irritability often work in sync for teens. As a child, your teen was easygoing. Now, you notice more reactivity and unpredictability in their mood and behaviors. It is their nervous system sounding an alarm of overwhelm.
You may also notice increased perfectionism, trouble making decisions, or a constant need to control their environment. Your relationship with them may also change, either through more clinginess or more withdrawal.
When to Seek Support
Noticing these signs in your teen is not an instant indication that something is wrong. Adolescence is a huge period of change, developmentally and socially. Stress and conflict are a normal part of life, especially during this time.
But when anxiety is getting in the way of school, friendships, sleep, and everyday functioning, it is worth seeking additional support options. When it comes to your teen, trust your gut. You know them better than anyone else, sometimes even themselves.
We specialize in working with teens and young adults who are navigating anxiety. Our goal is to meet them exactly where they are at and provide the support that best meets their needs. If you are ready to take the next step, contact us to learn more about anxiety counseling and schedule a consultation.