Anxiety is dominating teen news content and causing serious issues in homes and schools. To those of us raising teens it feels like there is a growing anxiety epidemic. What is it we can do as the adults to support our teens with managing anxiety?
‘Anxiety’ has been a commonly diagnosed health issue since around 5,000 B.C.E. There is a huge amount of available wisdom and advice. Here are our top picks, but most crucially, how to help your teen implement it.
You can pick your nose but not your thoughts
Anxiety, worries, concerns, apprehension... teens experience demanding lives in many aspects. Whilst a certain level of anxiety is perfectly normal in life, an inability to manage anxiety can lead to further mental and physical health problems. Helping our teens learn that anxiety is not their fault but designed to make us take action, is the crucial first step.
Help them implement by
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Empathise with them by acknowledging you would feel like them given the same circumstances.
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Explore with them what it is that has caused them to feel like this, whether it is people, devices or something else.
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Let them know that all people have to do this, not just them.
Teach them to take control
Communication is key to helping support your child manage their anxieties. We cannot always make the causes of anxiety disappear, so open discussions on how your teen is feeling and what they can do to alleviate the symptoms of anxiety is key.
Help them implement by
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Supporting your teen in writing down everything that is causing them worry – just writing it down can help them to feel they are ‘on top’ of it
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Split these factors into ‘things I can control’ and ‘things I cannot control’ - this can help your teen to realise that they can let go of the things they have no control over
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Make a management plan – of the things they can control, which factors can be fixed in the short term? Which are able to be fixed in the long term? And how can we fix these things? Discuss these with your teen
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Keep communication open – check in and see how the anxiety management plan is going. What has gone well? Does it need amending? Support your teen to do this.
