The rise of anxiety among teens is obvious. Recent data confirms that anxiety has surpassed depression as the most likely reason for college students to seek counseling services [5]. The American College Health Association has found serious increases in undergrads who report an overwhelming level of anxiety. The number of suicidal teenagers being admitted to the hospital has doubled over the past decade [4].
These startling facts are not something we as a society can ignore. Teenagers feel overwhelmed, panicked, and fearful in their everyday lives. However, there are still many questions about why today’s young adults are experiencing increased anxiety. Suppose your teen’s anxiety is significantly interfering with daily life. In that case, it may be time to reach out to a mental health provider and consider anxiety treatment to help them get their life back.
What are some signs of anxiety in teens?
As a parent, do you feel confident in your ability to distinguish stress from an anxiety disorder? Not understanding what sets these factors apart can keep a struggling kid in the dark, unable to get help when they need it. When you understand why anxiety develops in teens, you can help them navigate through it.
Here are some signs of anxiety in teens to look out for:
- Emotional Changes: Every teen has their “moments,” but sudden or extreme shifts in mood that feel out of character may indicate anxiety and difficulty managing emotions.
- Social Changes: If your teen starts avoiding friends or activities they once enjoyed, it’s worth checking in with them.
- Poor Sleeping Habits: Anxiety often disrupts sleep. Teens need quality rest, so persistent changes in sleeping habits can be a warning sign.
- Physical Anxiety Symptoms: Anxiety can show up in the body in many ways. Some symptoms of anxiety may resemble typical teen health complaints, but watch for panic attacks or other signs that interfere with daily life.
- Declining School Performance: Lastly, their school performance could begin to change. This can be harder to tune in to as a parent at home. Speak with their teachers and keep an eye on their grades.[2]
Recognizing these signs early allows parents to provide support and guidance, helping teens manage anxiety before it escalates. Emotional, social, sleep, physical, and academic changes are all connected, and noticing patterns across these areas can give insight into your teen’s well-being.
Related: What is Anxiety?
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What are common anxiety triggers?
Some teens push themselves to perfection, while others are so focused on fitting in that it affects their daily functioning. Some are still processing difficult experiences, and others may not seem to have any obvious reason for their anxiety—but their feelings are always valid.
Common triggers of anxiety in teens include:
1. Escaping into the digital world
Many teens have grown up with social media and technology at their fingertips. While these tools can be helpful, they also make it easy for teens to avoid uncomfortable situations by retreating into the digital world. Over time, this can limit opportunities to build mental resilience, leaving teens feeling helpless when facing everyday challenges and increasing the risk of social anxiety and other mental health conditions.
2. Comparing online lives
While social media is a great tool for keeping in touch with friends, it can have a dark side. Teenagers are exposed to endless photos and updates of people supposedly leading exciting lives, and edited pictures where people are airbrushed to the point of barely looking like themselves.
It’s widely known now that Instagram posts are a curation of the best bits in people’s lives – we don’t tend to share our failures as much as our successes – but it can still trigger anxiety in young people, especially when comparing themselves. This can diminish their self-esteem and self-worth.
Related: Nurturing Self-Image: A Guide for Parents Dealing with Teen Body Shame
3. World events
Current events like gun violence, home terrorism, and other societal threats can be distressing for teens. Constant exposure to news through digital media makes it nearly impossible for them to avoid frightening information, which can amplify feelings of fear and anxiety.
4. Academic competition
Today’s teens face intense academic pressure. Over-involved parents and high expectations can contribute to the stress they place on themselves. In the race to excel, teens may become overwhelmed, constantly worried they won’t measure up, which can worsen anxiety.
5. Pressure to succeed
The pressure to achieve—whether in grades, college admissions, or career prospects—can feel relentless. Exams, interviews, and future-oriented stressors send the message that failure could define their lives. This burden can create chronic stress and anxiety that’s difficult for teens to manage alone.
How to deal with triggers for anxiety?
Mindfulness exercises and coping strategies can help teens manage anxiety [1]:
- Box breathing: Inhale for four seconds, hold for four, exhale for four, hold for four. Repeat as needed to calm the nervous system.
- Journaling: Writing about thoughts, feelings, or plans can help teens process emotions and stay grounded.
- Slow exercises: Yoga, stretching, meditation, or long walks can help regulate the nervous system.
- Establishing routine: A consistent morning and evening routine can help teens feel organized, supported, and better able to manage their day.
Everyone’s journey with anxiety is unique. Some teens benefit from one or two coping strategies, while others find a combination works best. There’s no “right” or “wrong” way; what matters is finding what genuinely helps your teen feel calm and supported.
Related: Staying Grounded: The 3-3-3 Rule for Anxiety
How do you help a teenager with anxiety?
Understanding a teen’s triggers is key to offering effective coping tools. Tailoring strategies to their interests makes them more likely to engage. For example, a teen who isn’t interested in journaling may prefer painting, drawing, or another creative outlet.
Open, non-judgmental communication is essential. When teens feel safe sharing their feelings, they’re more likely to reach out when anxiety becomes overwhelming.
Related: Breaking the Silence: How to Talk to Your Teen About Mental Health
Seek out mental health treatment for anxiety disorders
If coping skills and open communication fail to provide adequate anxiety relief, it may be time to reach out for additional support. Clear Behavioral Health offers teen anxiety treatment programs in the Los Angeles, CA area, including our convenient location in Van Nuys.
Starting with a psychological evaluation conducted by a mental health professional can help determine whether or not your teen is struggling with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety disorder, and other mental health conditions.
From there, your teen will be matched with a treatment team including a therapist, case manager, as well as adolescent psychiatrist. These mental health specialists will create a customized treatment plan based on your teen’s unique needs.
Reach out today and give your teen the tools they need to thrive with our personalized approach to
Anxiety treatment for teens
Identify common anxiety triggers and know when to get help
Once you understand the triggers of teen anxiety and what this might look like in your child, you need to know what to do next. Seeking professional help with Clear Behavioral Health is the best way to enable your child with the right tools to counter anxiety.
Through individual therapy, group therapy, case management, peer support, and academic assistance, our teen anxiety treatment program at Clear Behavioral Health provides everything your teen needs to overcome anxiety. Don’t let anxiety continue to control your life. Call Clear Behavioral Health today to start the healing process.
References:
- LMFT, L. H. (2024, February 8). Building resilience: 9 ways to tame anxiety. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/9-ways-to-tame-anxiety-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
- Anderson, T. L., Valiauga, R., Tallo, C., Hong, C. B., Manoranjithan, S., Domingo, C., Paudel, M., Untaroiu, A., Barr, S., & Goldhaber, K. (2024). Contributing factors to the rise in adolescent anxiety and associated mental health Disorders: A narrative review of current literature. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 38(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/jcap.70009
- The Jed Foundation. (2024, March 1). 10 tips for talking to your teen about their mental health | JED. https://jedfoundation.org/resource/tips-for-talking-to-your-teen-about-their-mental-health/
- Children’s hospitals admissions for suicidal thoughts, actions double during past decade. (n.d.). American Academy of Pediatrics. https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/8333/Children-s-hospitals-admissions-for-suicidal?autologincheck=redirected
- Twenge, Jean M. “Why Are More American Teenagers Than Ever Suffering from Severe Anxiety?” The New York Times, 11 Oct. 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/magazine/why-are-more-american-teenagers-than-ever-suffering-from-severe-anxiety.html