5 Signs of Anxiety in Teens
Ivy Griffin
We’re living in a time of heightened anxiety, and it’s no wonder with this year we’ve been through! There’s a reason why the number of people seeking therapy has skyrocketed. When the entire world shut down and our lives changed seemingly overnight, it put most of us in a heightened state of alert. What was going on? Would we have what we need? How serious is this? How long will it last?
Until it happened, we didn’t even realize life could shift so suddenly. At first, some teens were thrilled with the prospect of school being out or of getting to lounge in their room in a hoodie and just turn on their computer for distance learning. However, as this pandemic has dragged on, any initial excitement has turned to exhaustion, frustration, burnout, and a lot of worry about the future.
Even teens who dislike school may have long since gotten over their enjoyment of not having to go. They’re stuck in limbo. Will this entire academic year end with another class forgoing traditional graduations? When will they get to see their friends on a daily basis again? While some teens have created new routines around seeing friends, they’re still not getting as much social connection as they normally would and who they see and how they interact varies widely. For that matter, when will they get to be around more of their peers again? What will colleges look like in 2021? Should teens even bother to go to college right away? If not, what will they do with a gap year? How long will they need to/have to live at home?
Teens are continuing to live in a swirling mess of uncertainty. It makes sense that lots of them are struggling with anxiety, and it’s tough because teens often don’t talk to their parents or loved ones about how they’re really feeling.
So, what are some signs to watch out for?
Trouble relaxing or concentrating: When teens become anxious, their nervous system amps up. It can be much harder to sit still, engage in the deep focus that school requires, and even relax. Teens may talk about how they just can’t get into the YouTubers or shows they normally like. They may say they keep having to re-read things over and over because it just won’t stick. You might notice them seeming agitated, fidgeting, or pacing.
Difficulty sleeping: Anxiety is like having your foot on the brake while pushing the gas pedal to the floor. The engine is revving, but it can’t go anywhere. Even though nothing visible is happening on the outside, a lot is going on under the hood. Such increased adrenaline makes it hard for a teen’s body to relax for sleep. And, as we know, teens need tons of sleep--more than at any point in life except for the toddler years--because their bodies and brains are changing so much. So, teens may complain of (or you may notice) not being able to fall asleep, so they stay up later and later. Or, they wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep for hours.
More frequent stomachaches or headaches: With anxiety comes increased tension. When the sympathetic nervous system is alert for danger, there’s an increase of adrenaline to prepare the body to fight, flight, or freeze. However, when a teen is feeling anxious, there’s usually no real danger, so all that adrenaline has nowhere to go. Instead, it makes muscles tense, leading to headaches, migraines, and even stomachaches or cramps.
Expressing more worry about the future: It’s normal for teens to have some concerns and fears about what happens after high school, since it’s such a time of change and transition. But, if your teen is struggling with anxiety, you may notice that they’re obsessively worrying about the future or that they’re fixating on a specific worry. They can seem like a broken record and may not be able to really hear your reassurances.
Increased withdrawal or isolation: While we often think of these as signs of depression, teens who are anxious may also withdraw. Anxiety can make teens so focused on their internal world that they don’t have the energy or don’t care to talk to family or friends. They might even feel like talking about the anxiety is going to make it worse or like they’re struggling so much just to get by that they aren’t up for being around other people.
Of course, there’s no one-size-fits-all for anything in mental health. If you’re concerned about your teen, talk to them, give them space and really listen if they share anything, offer to problem-solve together, suggest (or state) that you can help them find a therapist. All of this reinforces how much you care and reminds your teen they are not alone. These are tough times, but we will get through them together. And, such challenges can even help build your teen’s resiliency for the future.
All the best,
Ivy
Ivy Griffin, LMFT # 51714, Director
she/hers
Thrive Therapy & Counseling
thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/teens
hello@thrivetherapyandcounseling.com
916-287-3430