Everyone experiences feelings of fear, sorrow, and anxiety from time to time in daily life. But when these feelings become too much and start interfering with your daily routine, it may become an anxiety disorder. According to recent stats, in the US, nearly 70% of teens (ages 13-17) have one or another form of anxiety or depression. 

Since young adults are hesitant to take treatment for anxiety, parents must educate them about this disorder. It's difficult to help young adults with anxiety when they don't have much knowledge about this disorder. As a parent, you have a major responsibility to take care of your child, not just physically but also to protect their mental state. But if you believe your child is struggling with this disorder, it may be the time to discuss it with professionals.

What is Anxiety?

If you are struggling with constant feelings of fear and worry, then there might be a chance that you may have an anxiety disorder. Teen anxiety affects not only the child but also the parent and, ultimately, the entire family. It injects the fear and worry that lead to a lack of confidence and creates uncertainty about the future.

Over time, these emotions can disturb your daily tasks, educational attainment, and relationships. Teens may avoid responsibilities due to fear of social situations and pressure. This emotional strain can make parents feel anxious and worry about how to support their child's mental health.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

There can be different probable symptoms and causes of anxiety. People feel intense fear and worry that can not be rational. Teen anxiety often shows different symptoms than it does in adults. Some teens express their worries to their parents, while others hide their struggle to process their feelings, which can make it difficult to identify and treat anxiety in teens.

Symptoms can vary from teens to adults due to different societal pressures and experiences. Some common anxiety symptoms include:

• Feelings of worry and stress

• A sense of restlessness or sleeping too much

• Social avoidance and less social

• Low performance in academic and work experience

• Difficulty in concentrating on future goals

• Low energy and increased fatigue

Some physical symptoms of anxiety include:

• More sweating

• Muscle tension

• Dizziness and more sleep

• Stomachaches and headaches

• Rapid breath and heartbeat

Some behavioral symptoms of anxiety include:

• Avoid the social gathering

• Short temper and irritation

• Anxiety attacks

• Less appetite and inability to enjoy food

• Increased use of alcohol and self-medication

If your child is struggling with any of these symptoms, it might be time to begin with an anxiety treatment program near you. There are several programs of anxiety treatment in California that can help your teens return to normal condition.

What Causes Anxiety in Teens and Adults?

Teenage anxiety is often triggered by social, biological, and environmental factors. Genetics and brain chemistry are also involved in it. Certain family events, trauma, academic pressure, and social abuse can also contribute. Additionally, social media, fear of missing out (FOMO), and comparison among peers of Gen Z with different eras.

Moreover, bullying, hormonal shifts, mood swings, brain development, and the use of drugs or alcohol could be major causes of anxiety disorder. Low self-esteem and meeting unrealistic deadlines without support can also affect mental health.

Common Types of Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

This is the most common type of anxiety that triggers anxious feelings in adults. GAD is characterized by persistent worry about family and academic pressure. Teens with GAD often try to control this situation by themselves and may be experiencing physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.

Social Anxiety Disorder

It is also referred to as social phobia. Teens fear judgment, humiliation, and embarrassment in their daily social activities. They avoid public speaking, curricular activities, and even public eating. Being nervous is common, but getting annoyed by social activities constantly may trigger social anxiety disorders.

Panic Disorder

It mostly occurs in late adolescence and early adulthood. Sudden and intense episodes of fear may be caused by physical symptoms that lead to a fast heartbeat, stomach problems, and fast breathing. These attacks leave the child fearing and focusing on upcoming episodes of panic attacks.

Specific Phobias

Due to some bad experiences in the past, teens may have developed fears about specific objects or situations like germs, flying, and heights. Dealing with these fears can evolve into certain phobias that may affect your daily life. With time these fears limit your ability to engage in routine activities, social events, and curricular activities. Exposure to these phobias can trigger panic attacks, anxiety, and emotional draining. So, your daily life quality sucks.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

It is an unwanted and disturbing obsession that causes extreme anxiety. OCD is characterized by intrusion, unwanted thoughts, and repetitive behavior (compulsion). This behavior focuses on orderliness and perfectionism, for example, excessive hand washing, counting, and checking if a door is locked.

Treatment Methods for Teens and Young Adults

People with anxiety feel alone in this situation and try to figure it out by themselves. So the first thing is to let them realize that you are there for them no matter what the situation. They feel hopeless and isolated and hardly believe that things can get better. This might help accompany them to a clinic or make a first phone call, where they can talk to a mental health professional.

Dealing alone with mental health issues can often confuse an already disturbed mind. So a psycho-educational service can be provided to educate the method of anxiety treatment california

through conversation. This helps the patient and their loved ones feel more confident and hopeful about what’s happening and what can be done about this condition. In this way, they cooperate and make the treatment more effective.

Get Treatment Today 

Certified professionals can treat anxiety with the right medication. Treating teens under the supervision of professionals is crucial for effective recovery. Depending on the nature and severity of the disorder, medication for teen anxiety can be prescribed that works better. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are used to combat teen anxiety. It’s relatively safe and has no long-term side effects, so it can be used as front-line medication. Buspirone may also be prescribed for initial symptoms. But in severe cases, psychiatrists may prescribe stronger medication like beta-blockers and benzodiazepines (alprazolam or diazepam).

FAQs

How to deal with anxiety at a young age?

Follow the prescriptions of the doctor and try to get support from parents. Talk to yourself and other family members like a friend. Do enjoyable things that make you feel calm. Try calming techniques, prescribed medication and celebrate your achievements.

What is the first and best treatment for teenage anxiety?

After seeking psychiatric consultation and taking certain sessions, take some medicine referred to by the doctor. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are antidepressants that are recommended as the first and best choice for treating anxiety in children. Fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and escitalopram (Lexapro) are medicines that effectively treat teenage anxiety.

Can an under-18-year-old get Anxiety Medication?

It is common and treatable in teenagers; medication and lifestyle changes play a role in treatment. Make sure your child takes medicines on time, follows the side effects, and discusses the progress.