For many parents, it can seem impossible to help their troubled teens work through their anxiety. Their anxiety often cannot be resolved by simply talking with a parent, and unchecked anxiety can seriously stunt a teen’s personal growth if not addressed.
Therapy with professionals who specialize in working with adolescents is the best way to help a teen overcome their struggles with anxiety, and residential treatment centers for troubled teens offer the best, most intensive therapy for anxious teens.
Importance Of Therapy In Treating Teen Anxiety
Some parents may believe that their teens will overcome their anxiety with enough time. It is important for these parents to understand their teens’ anxiety is not a passing problem. In fact, an estimated 31.9% of teens experience anxiety, with 8.3% of these children struggling with severe anxiety to the point of impairment. Without the intensive therapy offered at residential treatment centers, teens with anxiety can struggle with:
Generalized anxiety – Excessive concerns and worries often overwhelm the teen.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – After undergoing a traumatic event, such as a car crash or the passing of a loved one, a teen can experience ongoing trauma related to their memories of the event.
Social anxiety – More than simply being shy, a teen can develop a fear of being around other people, feeling acutely uncomfortable and anxious when in social situations.
Phobias – Teens may develop a persistent, often unfounded, fear of something.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – While this condition is often used as the butt of jokes, teens who develop OCD face serious challenges. They will have a series of rituals that the teens feel will keep them safe from their fears. Some rituals may extend to excessive hand-washing, repeated checking of locks and appliances, word repetitions, and other compulsive behaviors.
Panic attacks – Without warning, teens who suffer from panic attacks can be consumed with overwhelming feelings of panic, which can lead to excessive sweating, heart racing, and dizziness.
Teen Anxiety Can Be Treated At Sundance
If traditional therapy and other solutions at home have failed to help your anxious teen, you may want to consider a boarding school for troubled teens. Sundance Canyon Academy is a residential treatment center that boards teens who are struggling with mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
We offer an immersive therapeutic program to help your anxious teenage son overcome his anxiety at its mental roots. Teens in our program also receive a robust education while developing the life skills to help them after they leave our program. To start helping your anxious teen, contact us today.