A report from the Child Mind Institute found that adolescence is frequently the time in life when anxiety first appears, with nearly one-third of adolescents meeting the criteria for anxiety disorders during this time. The same report showed that life-altering anxiety affects nearly 1 in 4 teens today.
With this early onset of anxiety, parents need to be aware of the symptoms and effects of anxiety, while learning how they can help their teens when anxiety becomes evident. Simply recognizing and talking about what anxiety is and the fact that it exists will help teens realize that they are normal, and they can talk about how they are feeling.
Anxiety in adolescence doesn’t just affect the teenager, it can impact the entire family, as teens act out with emotions that can loom over everyone. But if a family can work together as a team—with parents viewed as guides rather than enemies—a teen can successfully navigate this time in their lives and come through with a strong set of tools and techniques that will stay with them for their entire lives.
As a teen life coach, I work with teens and parents to navigate these often-anxious years. Learning simple, straightforward approaches to managing anxiety helps teens and parents develop more confidence in dealing with anxiety that may be an inevitable part of adolescence.
Many parents wait to get help because they find their teen is resistant and less open to the idea. Adolescence is a great time to reaffirm and strengthen foundational skills that ultimately contribute to healthy relationships and self-esteem.
As much as teens resist, they still benefit from and find comfort in knowing their parents are there for them and want to help. Teaching them that mental and emotional development is an essential part of their education is crucial. We may not ever use the math we learn in high school, but we will use our minds and feel our feelings every day for the rest of our lives.
