Symptoms of anxiety in teens

Teens have different worries than children; they become more concerned about their performance in school/sports/the arts, how they are perceived by others, changes in their bodies/health and about the future. Adolescence is a time when individuals are moving towards independence which means that they might be working hard to deal with the anxiety on their own or with the help of their friends. This might mean that a parent misses the signs that the anxiety is a problem or mistakes the symptoms as 'typical teenage behaviour.'

The following is a list of some of the symptoms that you might see in your anxious teen​:

• irritability

• restlessness

• difficulty concentrating

• gets startled/scared easily

• outbursts

• anger

• self-consciousness 

• sensitivity to feedback or criticism

• avoiding difficult or new situations

• no longer doing the things they enjoy

• avoiding friends or social outings

• isolation

• frequent complaints of headaches, aches, gastrointestinal complaints, or generally not feeling well with no medical cause

• changes in eating habits

• changes in sleep habits or always tired

• substance use (vaping, smoking, drinking alcohol, marijuana etc)

• skipping school

• changes in their grades 

• overwhelmed by school

• procrastinates

• preoccupied with grades

• spending too much time on schoolwork

Is your teen dealing with anxiety and what to do

It can be hard to determine whether your teen is dealing with anxiety or if they are navigating through adolescence because some of the behaviours look the similar.  Regardless of what it is, if you're concerned about your teen keep the lines of communication open, remember that it's a difficult time for them and let them know you are there to support. 

Some anxiety is normal, but when it disrupts one's life (school, work, family, socializing, activities, or health -sleeping, eating, pain, illness) a mental health professional can help. Please look into local mental health professionals in your community, or if you'd like to consult with me, please connect with me, or call me at (905)-464-1029.