Teens have it rough. In addition to experiencing constant change in their bodies and emotions, they are expected to juggle the pressures of school, extracurriculars and a social life in order to be considered successful. The stress caused by this pressure can lead to anxiety in teens. Teen anxiety can be absolutely crippling to a teen’s academic and social success. Identifying anxiety and getting it treated are extremely important for your teen’s overall well being.
Causes of teen anxiety
Teen anxiety might be caused by a number of factors. The most common of those factors are genetic, environmental and physical. Teens influenced by genetic factors oftentimes have relatives with anxiety issues, which increases their risk of having anxiety. Environmental factors influence teen anxiety if a teen has experienced some sort of trauma, such as a sudden death in the family, moving or parental divorce. Physical factors were found to cause anxiety in some teens through changes in brain activity.
Symptoms of teen anxiety
Teen anxiety can oftentimes be caused by an anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder or a panic disorder. Symptoms vary from disorder to disorder. Generally, if your teen is experiencing the following symptoms, they are experiencing some form of teen anxiety:
- Feeling on edge
- Obsessive behaviors and thoughts
- A combination of physical symptoms, such as sweating, shortness of breath, trembling, stomach aches or headaches
- Irritability
- Dizziness
- Difficulties concentrating
- Restlessness
If your teen is experiencing any of these symptoms, be sure to find help as soon as possible. Symptoms might escalate and negatively affect your teen’s life.
Negative impact
Teen anxiety can co-occur with other mental health issues teens often struggle with. These can include: depression, ADHD, substance abuse or eating disorders. In addition to co-occurring with other issues, anxiety in teens can cause:
- Poor performance in school
- Low self-esteem
- Behavioral issues
- Lifelong anxiety issues
Getting help for your teen is absolutely essential in order to avoid any further issues.
Helping your teen
If your teen’s anxiety issues are damaging their ability to live a happy, productive life, you need to find help for them. Getting professional help for their anxiety issues is a great way to get them the help they need. Another option is sending them to a residential treatment center.
Solstice RTC, a residential treatment center for teen girls and assigned female at birth ages 14-18, takes a holistic approach when it comes to treating teen anxiety and other teen struggles. Instead of treating the “problem area” itself, like anxiety, Solstice treats the entire individual. With a caring, experienced staff, Solstice is passionate about helping teen girls and assigned female at birth get back on the right track.
For more information about Solstice RTCÂ and how we can help your child overcome anxiety issues, please call us today at (866) 278-3345.
