Teen Anxiety:
Signs to Watch Out For

Everyone feels worried at some point in their life. It is a normal reaction to the demands, stresses, and daily annoyances of life. However, teenagers are particularly susceptible to anxiety disorders due to the emotional upheaval and changes happening during this stage of development. Teens experience physical development, psychological transformations, and shifting relationships rapidly. At this age they also experience varying goals, interests, hopes, and aspirations. All these changes create huge potential for teen anxiety.

Identifying the Signs

Forbes Health reports that 40 million American adults, or 19.1 percent of the population, have an anxiety disorder. For teens, anxiety can be all-consuming: worrying about many things all the time. Teens may feel uneasy during stressful times such as exam periods and competitive sports, or about going off to college. They may feel nervous in the company of new friends, or when relationship problems arise.

Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate “normal” worrying from anxiety, because teen anxiety symptoms can mimic expected teenage behavior. It is also important to remember that anxiety disorders can be experienced by anyone, making their emergence more confusing and challenging. To make matters tougher, many teens keep their feelings private and are reluctant to talk about their emotional struggles. 

It can be important to take action if you recognize the following symptoms of teen anxiety:

  • Frequent complaints of physical problems – Intense anxiety affects not only the mind, but the body as well. Take note if your teen constantly complains of physical pain and discomfort, such as headaches, stomachaches, or tiredness, when there are no medical causes.
  • Sleep problems – If your child feels tired after waking up or throughout the day, it likely means they are not sleeping properly. Difficulty falling asleep or being awake throughout the night could be an indication that your child has anxiety.
  • Changes in eating habits – A unwarranted, significant change in how your child eats, whether it is undereating or overeating, could be a red flag that should not be ignored.
  • Excessive worry – It is normal for teens to be concerned about different aspects of their lives, but if they are consistently or excessively worried most of the time, they are most likely experiencing anxiety.
  • Low self-esteem – More noticeable in a social setting, anxious teenagers seem withdrawn or uneasy. They appear preoccupied with worries or unrealistic concerns about social acceptance and competence. Self-deprecating and overly critical statements are often signs of anxiety.
  • Social withdrawal – A teen flooded with anxiety may act extremely shy. The intense self-doubt and worry overpower the desire to engage in fun activities or new experiences. Instead, your teen may refuse to attend or participate in extracurricular and social activities they previously enjoyed, avoid friends, and withdraw from the world.
  • Obsessive-compulsive behaviors – An anxious teen with obsessive or compulsive tendencies may repeat certain behaviors in an attempt to mask or numb feelings. Frequent hand washing, hoarding things, checking door locks, and rechecking chores to make sure they are satisfactorily completed are some signs that your teen may be experiencing anxiety.

If your child is struggling with an anxiety disorder it can leave you feeling powerless. Counseling can help.  

Knowing When and Where to Seek Help

Adolescence is a time when young people feel worried about many things, including rules, school activities, and other challenges associated with “growing up”. There is a fine line between worry and anxiety. Learning more about anxiety can help you to spot signs sooner and seek intervention.

If fearfulness is limiting your teen child’s activities, or the symptoms of anxiety have been weighing them down for more than six months, therapy may be just what they need. Your child may be resistant to seeking treatment, which can be another symptom of the anxiety. Finding treatment options is vital not only to ensure your child’s healthy development, but to send a clear message of love, care, and support for your child.

At Carolina Counseling Services — Pittsboro, NC, you’ll have the support of independently contracted counselors who can help set your child free from anxiety. Your child will be matched with the right professional who will create a plan of care to meet their unique needs and focus on what matters most: recovering from anxiety. Call CCS today to schedule!

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