What to Do If You Think Your Teen Has Anxiety

While it’s natural as a parent to want to protect your child from stress and worries, it’s not always the best thing for them. Anxiety is part of a normal response to stressors, the beginning of a mental and chemical cycle that helps your teen handle challenges.

As pediatric anxiety and depression specialists, our team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics in Rockville, Maryland, partners with you to help your teen cope with stress. Today, we take a closer look at what to do if you think your teen has anxiety. 

Management, not elimination

Anxiety is a different condition from other ailments your child might have. You can’t “cure” their anxiety, but you can help them control the experience. 

Anxiety triggers a stress response in the body, the so-called fight-or-flight reaction that helps a person cope with challenging situations. It’s a normal part of development to learn how to function through this reaction, so exposure to anxiety, while sometimes unpleasant, is part of growing up. 

Acknowledge and empower

Dealing with your teen’s anxiety requires a balance between offering empathy and providing the space to process their mental state. Whatever they express or feel while in their anxious state is valid, even if it’s not the way you process the same emotions. 

Listen to their frustrations and acknowledge that their feelings and reactions are valid and understandable. Let them know they have your support, and let them navigate their own process. Anxiety isn’t a problem you can fix on their behalf. 

Encourage acceptance

No one needs to enjoy feeling anxious, but they do need to accept that it’s a human state most people experience from time to time. Encourage them to face their fears as part of engaging in life, and show acceptance for their struggles. 

Consider your own anxiety responses

Like it or not, you’re a role model for your children. Their eyes are often on you when they need clues and hints about how to function. Consider your own response to anxiety and try to align your reactions to those you want your child to emulate. 

Don’t deny or downplay your anxiety, since that teaches suppression rather than processing. When it’s appropriate, share your concerns and fears with your child as you would like them to communicate with you. 

When you have difficulty making progress with your teen and their anxiety, contact our team at Abdow Friendship Pediatrics. We can advise when counseling and medications may be helpful in the treatment of severe anxiety. Call or click to schedule a consultation today.