Anxiety in Teens: What It Looks Like, Causes, & Treatments

Anxiety in Teens

According to comprehensive data, anxiety in teens is becoming more common.¹ Some anxiety and stress under pressure is normal, but teens are especially prone to developing significant anxiety because they’re figuring out their identity and finding independence. If anxiety begins to interfere with their ability to succeed, see friends, or go about their life, a therapist can help.

Anxiety becomes a diagnosable mental health disorder when it meets criteria as defined by mental health professionals.² The criteria typically includes having anxiety for a certain length of time, having a certain number of defined symptoms, and having some level of impairment in day-to-day functioning.²

For example, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) includes anxiety that lasts more than six months, is present a majority of the time, has a variety of mental and physical symptoms, and includes worry that’s difficult to control.² Consult with a mental health professional to determine whether the anxiety has risen to a diagnosable level.

What Does Anxiety in Teenagers Look Like?

Signs and symptoms of anxiety in teenagers vary based on the individual’s personality, type of anxiety, and what the individual is able to recognize and share. Symptoms may include somatic symptoms or symptoms that are experienced in the body (e.g., muscle tension) and mental symptoms (e.g., worrying).

Common signs and symptoms of teen anxiety are:

• Worry that is greater than the situation warrants and is difficult to control²
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Rumination or overthinking
• Frequent stomach-aches
• Frequent headaches
• Reports of feeling nervous
• Avoidance of activities they used to enjoy (for example, wanting to skip sports practice)
• Catastrophizing or worrying that bad things are going to happen
• Muscle tension
• Restlessness
• Difficulty concentrating

Anxiety & Gender

While society comes to terms with gender fluidity and variety of gender expressions, it may still be useful to recognize common differences in anxiety between male-sex-identified teenagers and female-sex-identified teenagers. The difference in anxiety between genders may partially be due to socialized differences. For example, some boys are socialized not to display certain emotions that our culture criticizes or sees emotions as weak in men.

Among teenagers, females are more likely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, with 38% of female adolescents having an anxiety disorder vs. 26.1% of male adolescents.¹ This finding could be due to differences related to seeking mental health treatment or how professionals diagnose.

There are many schools of thought on what mental health issues look like in girls vs. boys, and that is partly due to social constructs and expectations of what behaviors are “supposed” to look like. Oftentimes, mental health disorders can be misdiagnosed, overlooked, or overdiagnosed solely due to behavioral expectation.

What Causes Teen Anxiety?

The period between childhood and adulthood is complex. Teens are making decisions about their future or feeling pressure to do so, and this all takes place in an anxiety-ridden world. It’s important to note that there are healthy levels of anxiety in everyone; anxiety sometimes protects us from danger and helps us follow rules or stay out of trouble, and teens are navigating their understanding of actions and consequences.

With this, there are many causes to teenage anxiety including:

1. School

School can cause stress for some teens, depending on the school culture, environment, and the individual’s own predisposition to stress and perfectionism. In some schools, the pressure can feel relentless with due dates, extracurriculars, and comparison among peers.³ Most kids want to feel successful and meet expectations but that can come at a cost if they’re not treating their stress or anxiety.

2. Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can also cause stress, particularly if a person is trying to resist the pull of certain behaviors. Having a cohesive social group and feeling like you fit in is particularly important for teenagers and young people. To feel like you don’t fit in, or that your values are being challenged, can definitely cause stress.

Kids often develop core negative beliefs that they’re not smart, accepted, or liked; kids may go to certain extremes driven by this anxious need to soothe negative thoughts.

3. Social Media

Social media can cause anxiety for teenagers and people at any age. Social media isn’t an accurate representation of reality and kids may compare themselves and develop an anxious desire to meet unattainable standards. It can also lead to excessive judging and fears of missing out.³

4. Difficult Life Circumstances

Teenagers who are experiencing difficult lifestyle factors, such as poverty, living in a community with violence, or having a parent who is incarcerated, may also experience anxiety. These sorts of environmental factors can make the world feel less safe. When kids experience abrupt change, such as the divorce of their parents, they can develop anxiety and worry.

5. Stressful Relationships

Peer relationships are incredibly important for teenagers. When there’s conflict in these groups, this can be remarkably stressful. Everyone wants to fit in, and adolescence is a time of testing new identities and figuring out who you are. Feeling like you do not fit in can create or exacerbate anxiety.

6. College

For teenagers who are expected to continue their education past high school, applying to and attending college may be a significant anxiety-producing stressor. Teens must visit and choose schools as well as complete multiple applications. Waiting for and coping with hearing from each school adds additional levels of anxiety.

How to Help a Teenager With Anxiety

A teenager may not yet have the words to label their emotions as anxiety. First, help them identify how they’re feeling by labeling and verbalizing their emotions and the physical sensations that go with them (e.g., “My stomach is in knots” or “I feel tension in my shoulders.”). This helps teenagers identify and process their emotions.

Learning anxiety coping skills for teens is an important part of managing anxiety.⁴ Coping skills are actions a person can take to manage or reduce anxiety. These may include mindfulness practices like deep breathing, meditation, taking a walk, purposely soothing oneself, spending time with trusted people, or distracting oneself.

If the anxiety persists or interferes with functioning, it may be time to find a teen therapist. Common examples of when the anxiety needs more attention may include frequent absences from school, calling a parent excessively, wanting to quit certain activities, or an inability to sleep routinely.

There are many effective treatments for anxiety. A mental health professional can be a safe person for a young person to confide in. They can also teach skills to manage and reduce anxiety. Explore a therapist directory of therapists that can assist in this search.

Final Thoughts

Being a teenager with anxiety or worrying about a young person in your life with anxiety is difficult. It may feel daunting to determine what to do next. Remember, anxiety is manageable, and with the right help, you or your loved one can improve their mood.