It can be difficult for parents of teenagers to understand when they should get help for their teens for anxiety, because all adolescents experience stress and anxiety. A teen might get stressed when trying to find the perfect prom dress, before a huge math exam and when she's meeting new peers. It's important to distinguish normal levels of stress with overwhelming stress, which often leads to an anxiety disorder.
Signs and Symptoms
Most teenagers who develop an anxiety disorder suffer from constant, intense fear or worry. This creates problems at home and at school. The teen might seem incredibly irritable or shy, have trouble concentrating on class work and homework and get into arguments with friends and parents. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry reports that teens who suffer from anxiety disorders experience numerous physical symptoms such as muscle tension, headaches, stomachaches, sweating, trouble breathing, trembling and fatigue.
Types of Anxiety Disorders
Six main types of anxiety disorders plague teens. Generalized anxiety disorder is diagnosed when a teen suffers from the general symptoms of anxiety without symptoms from the other disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorder occurs when an adolescent has obsessive thoughts and performs compulsive behaviors. Specific phobias are diagnosed when a teen fears something in particular, such as heights or dogs. Social anxiety occurs when a teen becomes extremely nervous meeting new people, working in groups and speaking in front of others. Panic disorder is diagnosed when an adolescent experiences panic attacks. Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop when a teen experiences a severe traumatic experience and suffers from anxiety due to it.
Causes
Scientists and researchers haven't found one specific cause of anxiety disorders, reports Teens Health. A teen who has a family member who suffers from an anxiety disorder is more likely to develop one than a teen with no family history. Neurotransmitters--chemicals in your brain--seem to play a role in the development of anxiety disorders. Also, environmental factors and specific circumstances can increase or decrease anxiety symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment for teen anxiety disorders consist of medication and psychotherapy. If a teen suffers from severe anxiety, psychotropic medications such as antidepressants or benzodiazepines--also known as anti-anxiety medications--may be recommended. Doctors usually prescribe antidepressants first, because they're less addictive and habit-forming than benzodiazepines.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most common form of psychotherapy used in treating teen depression, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Cognitive-behavioral therapists work with teens to help them understand how their thoughts affect their emotions and behaviors. They also provide behavioral techniques to reduce anxiety.
Considerations
Teens who suffer from anxiety disorders might also suffer from other mental health disorders, such as depression or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Treatment should be structured around all mental health issues. Parents should be aware that some teens self-medicate with alcohol and drugs if they don't receive effective professional treatment for their anxiety.
