Teen Anxiety

As is the case with all anxiety, teen anxiety is not always obvious.

Click here for information on teen social anxiety in teens

Click here for information on teen separation anxiety

Click here for information on teen depression!

Many teens come to my practice with presenting behavioral problems of defiance, or avoidance or substance abuse. Take the case below of Adam.

Case Study: Adam

Adam was a fourteen year old boy who had recently been resistant to engaging in the same activities he had been in the past. He had a peer group who he had withdrawn from, and had recently been caught smoking pot. His parents were drug testing him regularly. His dad was convinced that he needed more discipline, and that the primary problem was he was lazy. He mother was convinced he was depressed and something else was wrong.

After exploring with Adam some more of what was going on it was obvious that he had some intense social anxiety. As was the case here, teen anxiety can lead to some maladaptive behaviors and also some depression. Adams social anxiety was so debilitating that it became a cause for depression.

In Adam’s case, we worked on treatment of the social anxiety and education regarding where his feelings and behaviors were coming from. After working on those issues, were able to implement a plan to improve his coping skills. Specifically we replaced his substance abuse with better coping mechanisms. He began to confront his anxiety and face it.

Anxiety In Teens: Specific issues

Behavior can mask the symptoms

Teen anxiety may often be expressed through defiance and avoidance, especially in boys but also in girls, appearing to be bad behavior. I my office this behavior is often truancy, mild drug use, and oppositional or argumentative behavior at home. Parents often unknowingly will reinforce a child’s anxiety if their symptoms are primarily behavioral because they avoid doing things that upset the child, thus feeding their anxiety. IF parents are not tip toeing around the teen anxiety than they are engaging in conflict over the teens behavior, thus leading to a stressful and uncomfortable home life and at time contributing to depression.

Dating

Teen anxiety can be caused by life stressors, especially if the teenager was already prone to stress. Girls in particular are very vulnerable to anxiety over dating issues. Girls are often at a loss for how to behave and what to expect when dating. Honestly, half of the time I spend with my teenage clients’ amounts to dating advice. Teen anxiety around dating is particularly likely if there haven’t been explicit discussions in the house about dating and an open attitude that cultivates and exchange between the teen girl and her parents, they are left to fend for themselves on their own. Without the skill to pick good dating partners, to know how to make good choices within that relationship and how to stand up for themselves, they are overwhelmed. Dating is a huge source of teen anxiety. This is the case with teenage boys as well. Click here for more information about teen dating (coming soon)

Body Image

Body image issues are another source of teen anxiety. Girls are under a tremendous amount of pressure to be thin and beautiful. As far as women have come over the past few decades, this remains and issue we have not been able to escape from. Teenage girls are judged by their appearance and are surrounded by media images of perfectly gorgeous and thin women who don’t exist in reality. I have noticed, in particular, that girls who present with anxiety over body images are more likely to have mother’s who have body image issues.

Poor Communication Skills

Girls who have not mastered the skill of assertiveness and have trouble verbalizing their thoughts and feelings are prone to anxiety as well. This is an issue of constant focus in my therapy practice. I will hear stories in therapy about how they were feeling when someone criticized them or ignored them or stepped on their feelings. When I ask “what did you say”, the response is nothing. Walking around with your feelings stuffed inside all day long will cause you anxiety and depression! Click here for more information about assertiveness ( coming soon).

Please Get Help Early

Specifically social anxiety, panic attacks and panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder are the diagnoses I see most commonly with teen anxiety. Some teens also have separation anxiety disorder. It is very important if you have a teenager suffering from anxiety to get help for your teen. Studies show there is a strong likelihood that a teen who has depression and anxiety will become an adult with depression and anxiety. The earlier you learn the tools to conquer depression and anxiety the better! Most retrospective studies of adults with these disorders indicate that the illness began in adolescence or earlier.

In addition to the anxiety disorder diagnoses, many kids who have anxiety also suffer from depression, physical problems, school problems, and eating disorders. If you have an anxious teen, please get them some help immediately.

EJ, Garland. (2001). Rages and Refusals: Managing the Many Faces of Adolescent Anxiety. Can Fam Physician , 1023-1030.