8 Tips to Connect With Your Anxious Teen

It’s becoming increasingly common for teens to show symptoms of anxiety. Though all teenagers will go through some anxious moments, many teens develop anxiety disorders that affect their day-to-day lives. According to the CDC, approximately 5.8 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 will be diagnosed with anxiety at some point during their childhood.

If you are the parent of an anxious teen, there are some things that you can do at home to connect with them and help them cope with their anxiety symptoms. Many teens see success in managing their anxiety symptoms when they have parental support and get to practice new coping skills without judgment.

Some teens, however, still have a tough time learning to manage their anxiety symptoms at home. For teens who need additional support, you can look into local therapeutic options and anxiety treatment centers. The most important thing is finding solutions that will work for your child.

Teen Anxiety Symptoms

Before trying to connect with your anxious teen, it’s important for you to understand their symptoms. Teen anxiety disorders can negatively impact every aspect of their life. From home to school to social interactions, chronic anxiety can make every situation much more difficult than it should be.

Some common symptoms of teen anxiety include:

1. Worrying about the future

2. Worrying about social interactions

3. Having trouble concentrating

4. Having panic attacks

5. Having trouble sleeping

6. Being overly afraid in a given situation

7. Avoiding social interactions

8. Avoiding new activities, places, or people

9. Using drugs or alcohol to manage their emotions