While anxiety is a common emotion among kids, some experience it more frequently than others.
Imagine your closest buddy telling you they are taking their dad to the airport so they can learn how to skydive. They can’t stop smiling. However, the very thought of skydiving makes you extremely nervous. When you try to swallow, your heart races, your stomach churns, and there’s a lump in your throat. You keep thinking about your friend because you find it hard to comprehend that she is genuinely doing this. They say they can’t wait to skydive again when they phone that evening—”It was thrilling!” Even though you and your friend are considering skydiving, your perspectives on the matter are vastly different.
Anxiety: What Is It?
Anxiety is a common response to stress in everyone, including teenagers. A number of situations and people can cause anxiety or uneasiness, including exams, dating, public speaking, meeting new people, and participating in sports. However, some teenagers have far stronger reactions than others to stressful circumstances. The situations may be quite distressing for them even to consider.
When anxiety eases your tension in a stressful environment, it might be beneficial. For instance, a small amount of worry during test preparation can motivate you to study diligently and perform well. However, there are other situations in which worry can be detrimental, particularly if it is overwhelming, illogical, and interferes with your ability to concentrate.
Anxiety can occasionally get in the way of your friendships, particularly if it prevents you from phoning or going out with them because you’re too nervous or scared. Since this degree of anxiety is detrimental, you should take action to reduce it so you can enjoy your adolescent years to the most.
How Can Teens Deal with Nervousness?
Many teenagers manage their high levels of anxiety in different ways. Understanding your emotions, what you’re feeling, and why you’re feeling that way are crucial. It’s crucial to develop constructive coping mechanisms for anxiety. It helps to identify the kinds of situations that make you anxious.
Anxiety can occasionally be decreased by just acknowledging that a situation is stressful and being ready to handle it. The next step is to see a therapist or other health care provider for help if you attempt these easy fixes but your anxiety persists.
What Level of Anxiety Is Too High?
The following are a few indicators of excessive anxiety:
You have completely unfounded fear, worry, or anxiety. Teens typically experience anxiety in response to a specific event, such as an exam or a date. However, if your feelings seem unfounded, your anxiety level can be too high.
You obsess about little matters or daily tasks. It's normal to worry sometimes. However, your level of anxiety is too high if you find yourself worried about unremarkable things all the time or if you avoid those occasions because of your excessive fear.
You keep asking yourself if you done things correctly. While double-checking your work is normal when you want to make sure everything went as planned, doing it repeatedly indicates that your anxiety level is much too high.
You get so anxious that you can't even function in some settings, like studying for an exam or hanging out with friends.What are the Treatments for Anxiety Available for Teens?
A crucial first step in lowering your anxiety is determining the best course of treatment. Treatment entails perhaps weekly visits to a psychologist, clinical social worker, or psychiatrist. There are occasions when the school counsellors might be a useful resource for locating the right care. Your relationships with family and friends, as well as how well you perform in school, can all be improved with treatment.
These are the most popular methods of treating anxiety.
Medicine: Depending on the kind of anxiety you experience, a number of prescription drug types may be helpful.A diagnosis will be made by the psychiatrist, who will then utilise that diagnosis to direct drug administration. Medication used to treat depression is frequently also used to treat generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety. To function optimum, they require 4 to 6 weeks.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): For cognitive-behavioural therapy, or CBT, you will need to visit a therapist.
Biofeedback: This therapy, which is not widely utilised, measures your body’s reaction to stress using electronics.
Methods for relaxation: You may manage your stress and lessen anxiety and negative thoughts by practicing relaxation techniques. Common methods of relaxation include yoga, tai chi, meditation, deep belly breathing, and listening to relaxing music.
When Should Adolescents Seek Anxiety Treatment?
It is imperative that you seek treatment if you suffer from severe anxiety, as previously noted. Thirteen percent of teenagers experience anxiety levels high enough to require medical or psychotherapy intervention.