How Anxiety Affects Teenagers

Anxious teens are different from anxious children. When they’re younger, kids worry more about things like the dark, monsters, or something bad happening to their parents. But teenagers are more likely to be worried about themselves.

Often this looks like perfectionism. Teens might fear not doing well in school or sports. Or they may be very worried about what other people think about them. It’s also common for kids to be worried about their bodies. Going through puberty before or after their friends is a big trigger.

Some anxious teens have been struggling for a long time, but it’s gotten worse. Other times, kids who weren’t anxious before will suddenly start being anxious as teens. Social anxiety and panic attacks are two kinds of anxiety that often start in the teenage years.

It can be hard to notice anxiety because teens are good at hiding their feelings. Symptoms also vary from kid to kid. Some teens tend to avoid things. Others are more irritable or lash out at people around them. They might start refusing to go to school or complain a lot about stomachaches and headaches.

Anxious teens may get into the habit of using marijuana or alcohol to feel less anxious. It works in the short term. But their anxiety doesn’t actually go away, and eventually kids can become dependent on the substance.

Anxiety often leads to depression, too. A life full of avoidance or worry undermines wellbeing. As anxious kids start doing less and less, their depression grows.

The best treatment for teens with anxiety is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT teaches kids how to face their anxiety instead of avoiding it. Then they learn that their anxiety actually gets smaller over time. Sometimes CBT is also combined with an antidepressant medication for kids who are too anxious to do CBT alone.