Teens across the country are facing anxiety. Teenage anxiety is not unusual; it’s simply a normal reaction to stress and occurs in many aspects of a teen’s everyday life. Trying to narrow it down a specific cause or event is simplifying something that is much more complicated. Trying to treat anxiety in teens means understanding what the most common causes of anxiety in teenagers are.
Some anxiety is inherent in being a teenager, while some has nothing to do with age. Some teen anxiety is caused by genetics, while other anxiety is caused by what’s going on in a teen’s life. Below are some of the major causes of teenage anxiety:
Brain Development
The brain develops significantly during the teenage years. Gray matter increases until around age 11 in girls and age 12 in boys, at which point the brain begins pruning synapses and reducing gray matter. This pruning can cause mood swings and worse. The last area where gray matter stops thickening and starts refining is the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with self-control, judgment, and thinking before actions. Not having fully-developed decision-making skills makes life more complicated and can lead to feeling of anxiety in teenagers, especially when complicated with changing hormones.
Hormonal Shifts, Mood Swings
Hormones are blamed for teenage anxiety and other strange behavior quite often, but there is some truth to it. During the teenage years, the body’s hormones and brain’s chemistry can become unbalanced as estrogen and testosterone levels increase. This imbalance can cause heightened reactivity and more emotional responses, which get even worse when coupled with external stressors common in teenage lives. When you combine hormonal shifts, brain development, and external stressors, it can exacerbate anxiety for any teenager.
Changes in Teen Bodies
Teens’ bodies are always changing, both in appearance and functionality, which can cause lots of undue stress. Whether it's acne, body hair, body odor, menstrual cycles, or even erections, these unwelcome changes can be embarrassing and awkward. As teens develop their sex organs and sexual urges, there is additional stress and anxiety around STDs, pregnancy, sexual orientation, and more.
Parents: Distancing and Disapproval
The teenage years are often a time for exploration and a time away from parents, which involves taking on new responsibilities. This can be one of the big causes of anxiety in teenagers and sometimes leads to parental disapproval, which only exacerbates the problem. When teens disagree with parental ideas about religion or politics, it can cause more anxiety. All of this pushing and pulling is a necessity of growing up but can be incredibly stressful for teenagers.
Peer Pressure and Alcohol/Substance Abuse
A major cause of teenage anxiety and stress is peer pressure to behave a certain way. Teens often feel they must conform to social expectations and believe they’re abnormal if they don’t do as their friends or classmates do. In some cases, alcohol and drug use can result from peer pressure. Using these substances when the brain is still developing can hinder development and cause additional stress and anxiety. The consequences of using drugs or alcohol before a teen is ready can go beyond what parents can handle.
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| In a 2010 report, researchers found that 31.9% of American teens met criteria for anxiety disorders. Source: youth.gov |
What Should Parents Do?
Stress and anxiety can seem overwhelming, especially to parents of teenagers who may think there is no way to escape the dangerous world in which they live. However, the best way to help manage anxiety in your teenager is to deal with it directly.
• Talk About It- Have a conversation with your child about what’s going on in their life. Talk about what’s bothering them, what’s going on with them emotionally, etc. Just asking them about school isn’t enough.
• Give Them Space- Pay attention to your children, but don’t overcrowd them, which can push them away. Watch for any changes in their behavior.
• Try Not to Get Angry- When a teen does something wrong, such as hiding something or misbehaving, the first response is often anger. This anger can result in additional anxiety and stress for teens. Try to help instead and resolve the issue.
• Get Help and Treat the Whole Family- If you’re worried about anxiety in your teenager, talk to a counselor at school, or consult a therapist or doctor. If the problem is larger in scope, it may be necessary to get the whole family involved and do group counseling with a therapist.
Dealing with teenage anxiety can be a tricky business, especially when there are factors ranging from hormone imbalances to brain chemistry, peer pressure to parenting. Stress and anxiety are always difficult, but getting the right help and talking to your teen are the right steps to ensuring better and healthier relationships for everyone.
