While stress is a response to a current situation, anxiety is more about the anticipation of future problems. Both can share physical and emotional symptoms, such as uneasiness, tension, and headaches.
Common Triggers for Teenage Anxiety
- Academic pressures
- Social dynamics and peer pressure
- Changes in their bodies
- Uncertainty of future prospects
Recognising signs of anxiety in teenagers
Teens often struggle to articulate their feelings and may withdraw from sharing their emotions. You should be on the lookout for signs such as:
- Excessive worry about routine activities or events
- Irritability or mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating or completing tasks
- Avoidance of social situations
- School truancy
- Sudden drops in academic performance
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Changes in eating patterns
- Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches
Supporting your teenager through anxiety
- Create a Safe Space: Provide a non-judgmental environment for your teen to express their feelings and concerns.
- Listen Actively: Listen without dismissing their emotions.
- Learn Together: Educate yourselves about anxiety to demystify the experience.
- Encourage Healthy Habits: Regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can significantly improve mental health.
- Promote Independence: Encourage your teen to take on responsibilities and solve problems independently to boost their confidence and reduce anxiety over time.
- Celebrate Small Victories: Acknowledge and celebrate progress in managing anxiety. Positive reinforcement can motivate your teen to continue working towards improvement.
Understanding stress and anxiety
Change is a constant in life. Even if we decide not to change, life moves around us and pushes us to adapt to new circumstances. From weather seasons to adolescence (the transition from childhood into adulthood), change is part of our human existence.
Adolescence is not free from emotional changes. Stress and anxiety are common emotional responses to these changes. While stress is a response to a current situation, anxiety is more about the anticipation of future problems. Both can share physical and emotional symptoms, such as uneasiness, tension, and headaches.
Adolescence is a journey that requires patience and empathy. Together, you and your teen can navigate the challenges of anxiety and enjoy the journey together like a walk in the park
Dr Emma Allende
Anxiety can become overwhelming and persistent, interfering with daily activities and causing significant distress. This heightened state of anxiety is known as an anxiety disorder, and it is at this point that a professional can help.
Seek support for yourself
Managing your own stress and emotions is crucial to being a strong support for your teen. Sharing your worries with family, friends, or a counsellor can help reduce feelings of anxiety and isolation, and connect you with others who might have had similar experiences and advice to share.
- Create a ‘Feeling Good Box’: Fill a box with items that make you feel happy and calm, such as photos of family, friends, pets, dried flowers, favourite essential oils, stress balls, or puzzles.
- Keep a Journal: Recording your feelings and experiences can help you process emotions, reflect, and discover the root of your worries. It also provides space to think about ways to tackle situations that cause anxiety.
Adolescence is a journey that requires patience and empathy. Together, you and your teen can navigate the challenges of anxiety and enjoy the journey together like a walk in the park.
