Anxiety Symptoms in Teens

Anxiety symptoms in teens won’t manifest quite the same for everyone. In other words, anxiety affects everyone differently, particularly young people. While feeling anxious about certain situations is normal, persistent anxiety that interferes with the day-to-day may indicate a deeper concern that requires professional support.

Types of Anxiety Disorders in Adolescents

Anxiety is more or less an umbrella term for a few different mental health conditions that involve excessive worry, fear, or unease.

  • Generalized Anxiety: Generalized anxiety disorder refers to persistent and extreme worry that impedes one’s day-to-day. These worries usually revolve around routine issues like work obligations, family well-being, or even small tasks such as household duties and scheduled appointments.
  • Social Anxiety: Social anxiety entails significant fear and discomfort about being embarrassed, humiliated, or judged in social situations. Those affected may either avoid these situations or endure them with substantial anxiety.
  • Panic Disorder: Characterized by recurring panic attacks, this disorder brings about intense physical and psychological distress.
  • Phobias: A specific phobia is an overwhelming fear of certain objects, situations, or activities (most of them generally harmless). Individuals recognize their fear is excessive but struggle to overcome it (e.g., fear of flying, public speaking, or spiders).
  • Separation Anxiety: This refers to extreme fear and anxiety related to being separated from attachment figures, lasting longer than is age-appropriate, and causing significant functional challenges.

Signs of Anxiety in Teens

Normal anxiety (or anxious thoughts and behaviors) typically arises in response to high-pressure or nerve-wracking situations—like before a presentation or after a near-miss incident. These feelings usually pass once the stressful situation resolves. Anxiety, however, is more consistent, may become excessive or persistent, and thus may indicate an underlying condition that demands attention.

Signs of anxiety in teens, not to be confused with the symptoms, refer more to specific actions and behaviors others can see, such as restlessness, trembling, irritability, sweating, or avoidant behavior, as well as:

  • Diminished school performance
  • Withdrawal from social activities
  • Lost interest in things they used to enjoy
  • Shared thoughts of negativity about themselves or about life

Common Teen Anxiety Symptoms

While worrying about upcoming events or challenges is natural, persistent worry about unlikely scenarios or circumstances beyond one’s control may indicate an anxiety disorder. Young people might experience constant concerns about the following:

Teen anxiety symptoms are more concerned with how a person reports feeling, such as:

  • A sense of being restless, anxious, and perpetually tense
  • Apprehension that something awful may occur or thinking the worst is going to happen (catastrophizing)
  • Struggling to concentrate and maintain focus
  • Finding it challenging to unwind
  • Thinking that worrying is the sole method to avert negative outcomes

Physical Symptoms

Physical symptoms of anxiety often manifest as:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Changes in appetite
  • Stomach aches
  • Headaches
  • Digestive issues
  • Fatigue or restlessness

Panic Attacks

Some individuals experience panic attacks—intense episodes that can include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest pain
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Trembling
  • Overwhelming feelings of doom
  • Stomach distress

Avoidance Behaviors

Teens with anxiety might avoid situations that trigger their symptoms, such as:

  • Attending school
  • Avoiding social events
  • Skipping extracurricular activities
  • Withdrawing from peer interactions
  • Leaving home

The Impact of Untreated Anxiety

Without proper support, some young people might turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like substance use, to placate their symptoms. Because anxiety and substance use issues can occur simultaneously, they can present unique challenges that demand a more holistic, comprehensive approach to treatment that caters to both areas of concern.

Finding Support

If anxiety begins interfering with daily activities, seeking professional help is important. Anxiety treatment might include the following:

Lifestyle Approaches

While not a replacement for professional treatment, certain lifestyle changes can support overall well-being:

  • Regular physical activity
  • Balanced nutrition
  • Consistent sleep schedules
  • Stress management techniques
  • Mindfulness practices

Support at Ridge RTC

At Ridge RTC in New Hampshire and Maine, we understand that anxiety can significantly impact a young person’s life. Our comprehensive treatment approach helps individuals understand their anxiety, develop effective coping strategies, and work toward lasting wellness. We create personalized treatment plans that address both immediate symptoms and underlying causes, supporting adolescents as they build the skills required for long-term success post-treatment.

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