Signs & Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens

This article was reviewed by Daniel Z. Lieberman, MD.

We all experience stress, worry, and nervousness from time to time — but when these feelings become overwhelming and constant, it might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. Anxiety affects people of all ages, including kids and teenagers. Anxiety in teens might be especially prevalent.

Research shows that around eight percent of children and nearly 25 percent of adolescents aged 13 to 18 experience anxiety. A 2018 Pew Research survey found that 70 percent of teens today see anxiety and depression as major teen problems — whether they’re dealing with these issues themselves or know others who are.

These anxiety-in-teens statistics may seem staggering. But if you’re a teenager struggling with anxiety or a parent of one, you’re not alone. There’s no shame in having anxiety. Equally as important? It’s treatable, and addressing teens’ mental health is crucial.

Keep reading to learn about the signs of anxiety in teens, explore treatment options, and more.

Image Credit: PeopleImages/istockphoto.

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens

Anxiety symptoms in teens are similar to those in adults, and the symptoms of anxiety vary based on the type of anxiety disorder someone has.

General signs and symptoms to look out for include:

• Excessive worry that’s hard to control or stop

• Difficulty concentrating

• Intense fear

• Shortness of breath

• Sweating

• Increased heart rate

• Sleep issues and nightmares

• Having trouble regulating emotions and being prone to outbursts

• Physical symptoms like stomach aches and headaches

• Social withdrawal

• Low self-esteem

• Changes in appetite (eating more or less than usual)

Some people might experience many symptoms, while others may only exhibit a few.

Image Credit: fizkes/Istockphoto.

Anxiety in Teens: Girls vs. Boys

Some studies suggest rates of anxiety are higher in girls than in boys. One review of research found that childhood anxiety symptoms in girls might lead to a higher likelihood of showing symptoms of depression in adolescence.

So, are the symptoms in boys and girls different? The same review noted that anxiety in teenage girls often involves more worrying about relationships and concern for social standards.

Also, the symptoms of anxiety in girls might be easier to spot than anxiety in teen boys.

Image Credit: Dima Berlin/Istockphoto.

What Types of Anxiety Do Teens Get?

Teens can develop the same types of anxiety disorders as adults. This includes:

• Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This mental health condition is characterized by constant and excessive worries and fears of everyday life and situations that persist for months.

• Phobias. A phobia is an extreme fear of a specific thing, place, or situation.

• Social anxiety disorder. With social anxiety disorder, feelings and symptoms of anxiety center around interactions with others and social situations.

• Panic disorder. This condition is when frequent panic attacks arise for no apparent reason.

• Separation anxiety. People with separation anxiety experience intense worry and fear when they’re apart from their caregiver, partner, or close family members.

Image Credit: Valeriy_G/Istockphoto.

PTSD in Teens

Though not an anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can present at any age, including during the teen years. Some of its symptoms look similar to anxiety, including difficulty concentrating, sleep issues like nightmares, and irritability.

PTSD can happen after someone experiences trauma. For the purposes of making the medical diagnosis, trauma is defined as actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence. Although other disturbing experiences can feel traumatic, they generally don’t lead to a diagnosis of PTSD.

Image Credit: shironosov/Istockphoto.

OCD in Teens

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is also no longer classified as an anxiety disorder, but some of the symptoms can seem similar to anxiety.

OCD involves obsessive and intrusive thoughts that cause distress and compulsive or repetitive behaviors that are used to try to make the distress go away.

Image Credit: Wavebreakmedia/Istockphoto.

When Does Anxiety in Teens Start?

The starting age for anxiety ranges from childhood and early adolescence to young adulthood. It can vary depending on a bunch of factors, like the specific anxiety disorder and gender.

For example, studies show that separation anxiety disorder, specific phobias, and social anxiety usually begin in childhood and early adolescence, before the age of 15 years old.

On the other hand, the onset of panic disorder and generalized anxiety disorder is generally between 21 and 35 — though it could emerge earlier.

Image Credit: Paperkites/Istockphoto.

What Causes Anxiety in Teens?

Experts believe a mix of genetic, environmental, social, and psychological factors all play a role in the development of most forms of anxiety.

Still, research points to common themes and external stressors associated with anxiety in middle and high school students. For example, these age groups might feel pressure to:

• Get good grades or participate in extracurricular activities

• Look a certain way or maintain their physical appearance

• Fit in in social situations and be accepted by their peers

• Excel at sports

• Get into college and be able to afford it

• Contribute financially to their families

Like adults, teens tend to face different stressors based on their gender, race, socioeconomic status, and other reasons.

Notably, one study done in Wisconsin found that rates of anxiety were higher among sexual minority youth. This spotlights a need for more adolescent mental health support in vulnerable groups.

Another study found that changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic — like social isolation and loss of community and peer support — have led to increased rates of anxiety.

Image Credit: Daisy-Daisy/Istockphoto.

Risk Factors for Anxiety in Teens

While the internet offers many benefits, data suggests that smartphone and social media use among young people is associated with an increased risk of mental distress.

Other risk factors for anxiety are:

• A family history of anxiety disorders

• Socioeconomic stressors

• Exposure to violence

• Trauma

• Stressful life events, like personal relationship problems, divorcing parents, or the death of a loved one

But bear in mind these aren’t necessarily direct causes of anxiety.

Image Credit: Daniel de la Hoz/Istockphoto.

Anxiety vs. Stress in Teens

Anxiety is an emotional, mental, and physical response to a perceived threat or danger. When it’s constant and pervasive — even in the absence of external stressors — it might qualify as an anxiety disorder.

Teen stress, on the other hand, tends to be more fleeting and is often a response to a specific external trigger. It’s normal for kids and teens to feel stressed out or moody sometimes.

But if it’s consistently impacting everyday life, it might be time to reach out for professional help.

Image Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Istockphoto.

Diagnosing Teenage Anxiety

To get an anxiety diagnosis, you and/or your teenager will need to meet a mental health professional for an evaluation. Your provider may run some psychological assessments and have conversations about symptoms and medical history.

Though there isn’t a specific teenage anxiety test, you may be asked to take the GAD-7 (General Anxiety Disorder-7) assessment — an anxiety test for teens and adults alike.

The diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders vary, but clinicians will diagnose generalized anxiety disorder if the following things apply:

• The patient has been overly anxious and worried for at least six months.

• Worrying is difficult to control.

• The anxiety is distressing and interferes with daily life.

• The anxiety doesn’t have a physical cause.

• The patient has had three or more additional symptoms for at least six months (like having a hard time concentrating, sleep problems, and irritability).

Image Credit: SeventyFour/Istockphoto.

Teen Anxiety Treatment Options

Some research shows that early intervention and support for anxiety can give teens lifelong strategies and resources to make it more manageable later in life.

Teenage anxiety treatment options include therapy and medication, sometimes in combination, and healthy lifestyle habits.

Therapy for Teens With Anxiety

Psychotherapy can be a great tool for kids and teenagers with anxiety. A few types include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Research shows that this type of therapy — which involves identifying and challenging negative thoughts that cause worry — can effectively treat anxiety in teens. CBT therapists teach skills to help cope with anxious feelings.

• Exposure therapy. This form of behavioral therapy is all about conquering your fears. The idea is to safely expose patients to the thing that causes them distress, and, over time, it’ll become less distressing. It’s most helpful for panic disorder, phobias, or social anxiety in teens.

• Family therapy. There are a few approaches to family therapy, but it’s usually carried out as group talk therapy. If anxiety is interfering with or caused by family dynamics, this type of therapy can benefit both the teen and the family.

Image Credit: SeventyFour/Istockphoto.

Anxiety Medication for Teens

If a teen is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, their mental health provider might prescribe a type of medication known as antidepressants. Using antidepressants (or any medication) to treat anxiety should be a collaborative choice between the provider, caregiver, and teenager.

What makes antidepressants the best anxiety medication for teens? Although the name of these drugs makes them sound like they’re only for depression, antidepressants are also the best treatment for anxiety. That’s because they work by modifying the activity of the brain chemical serotonin, which plays a role in both anxiety and depression.

One study on kids between the ages of seven and 17 with separation anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or social phobia compared CBT, sertraline (Zoloft) medication treatment, and a combination of sertraline and CBT to see what was more effective.

After 12 weeks, about 81 percent of the participants who received the combination treatment showed significant improvement.

This suggests that, when appropriate, antidepressants can help people feel better and make symptoms of anxiety more manageable.

Image Credit: SeventyFour/Istockphoto.

Other Anxiety Coping Skills for Teens

It sounds simple, but sometimes adjusting your habits can help make the symptoms of anxiety less severe. Here are some healthy habits and coping strategies teens with anxiety can try:

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity can help release stress and anxiety.

• Practice mindfulness. Relaxation techniques, breathing exercises, or meditation may help reduce some of the symptoms of anxiety and stress reactions.

• Get a good sleep routine. Aim to go to sleep and wake up at roughly the same time each day (even on weekends). Shoot for the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommendation of at least eight hours of sleep a night.

• Be patient with yourself. Anxiety can get better, but it doesn’t usually disappear overnight. Try to focus on gradual improvements and goals, and be kind to yourself when you have hard days or face setbacks on your mental health journey.

If you’re the parent of an anxious teenager, you can support them by:

• Actively listening to them and making them feel loved and accepted for who they are

• Asking them questions about their feelings without judgment

• Providing them with resources to get treatment and encouraging their efforts

• Making necessary changes if environmental factors or family dynamics are triggering anxiety

If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to your pediatrician. They can refer you to a mental health professional or another qualified clinician for professional help.

Image Credit: Ridofranz/Istockphoto.

Final Thoughts on Anxiety in Teens

Teenage anxiety is a common and treatable condition. Here’s what to keep in mind about teens and anxiety:

• The symptoms of anxiety can vary depending on the type. But common signs are excessive worrying, difficulty concentrating, and physical things like stomach aches and shortness of breath.

• Teens with anxiety may also be more irritable, withdraw socially, and have low self-esteem.

• Separation anxiety disorder, phobias, and social anxiety disorder usually emerge in childhood and early adolescence, while panic disorder and generalized anxiety tend to set in a bit later. But each of these anxiety disorders can crop up at any age.

• While there isn’t one exact cause of anxiety, some stressors associated with teen anxiety are stressful life events and school and social pressures.

• Anxiety is treatable. Options include therapy and antidepressants, as well as incorporating healthy habits like mindfulness and exercise.

If you’re a teen dealing with anxiety or the parent of one, it’s never a bad idea to reach out for help. Getting in touch with your primary care provider is a great first step toward feeling better.

• Related: 5 Tried & True Steps to Tame Your Curls
• Related: I Hated Needles. Now I Use Ozempic

This article originally appeared on Forhers.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org

Image Credit: diego_cervo/Istockphoto.