How To Help Your Anxious Teenager

Your teen is going through a lot, and you want to know how to help your anxious teenager. You know that anxiety isn’t something that’s easy to talk about. It’s important to know that anxiety is a normal part of life and can be caused by many things. However, if it is causing your child significant stress and is affecting their daily life, then it’s important that you talk to them. Ask them about what they’re feeling and how you can help them feel better. Start by learning more about their struggles so that you know how best to support them.

How you can approach your anxious teenager

• Talk to your child.
• Make non-judgemental observations to get your teen talking about their anxiety. You might start by saying something like “I have noticed a change in you lately. You seem like you’ve been feeling more anxious than usual.” 
• Always normalize the emotion. Let them know that it is okay to feel this way. 
• Proceed with the conversation to the extent that they are willing to make emotion-focused observations like “everything feels harder when you’re filled with anxiety”. This can encourage them to open up more fully.
• If your child does not open up, don’t push it. Let them know that you care and that you are here for them if they need it. Tell them you will check back in on them in 20 minutes and follow through. Find alternative ways to show that you care and be patient in allowing them to gradually open up. 
• If your child does open up, actively listen without judgment. Avoid advice-giving unless they are engaged and open to receiving it. Instead, ask how you can support them through this time. 

Seek professional advice

Anxiety disorders are treatable, and your teenager can learn how to manage it. Asking a counselor or therapist for help is a good way to help your teen overcome their anxiety. You’ll want to find an experienced teen counselor who uses evidence-based methods like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can be an effective way to help your teen learn recognize when they’re feeling anxious, so they know what steps they need to take next.

What you can do to minimize your teens anxiety

If your teen is reluctant to talk about their feelings with you, encourage them to find someone else who they can open up to. It may be difficult for them to talk about their feelings with parents who they fear may not understand. A therapist is trained to help teenagers feel comfortable opening up about what they are feeling. However, it is important that as a parent, you also continue to gently offer your ear as a support and comforter. Be mindful not to invalidate their feelings and constantly try to offer advice. This can shut them down from communicating with you.

The importance of exercise to combat anxiety

As a parent, you know that exercise is important for your child’s physical health. But did you know it can also help improve their mood and anxiety? Even regular walks with their dog can make a difference to their mental wellbeing. The key to helping your anxious teen remain active is to make sure they’re doing something that they enjoy. Therefore, look for an activity that gets them off the couch and will get them moving around.

The best options are those which get them interacting with other people like playing sports with friends or biking together as a family.  However, if your teen is resistant to the idea of exercise, then you can look for non-directive ways of including exercise in daily routines.  For example, creating a new evening routine of walks with your teen, keeping it relaxed and free of lectures. This will introduce exercise to your teen’s routine but is also a bonding opportunity. 

How family quality time reduces anxiety

Spending time together as a family is important for everyone in your household, but it’s especially helpful for anxious teens. They can connect with others, feel supported and just have fun. Teens will feel more comfortable opening up about what they experienced in the last few weeks with people who can understand and love them. Going on regular trips, drives and outings together in which you can openly talk and become closer will help your anxious teen. 

How to help your anxious teenager

It can be tempting to avoid your teen in times of crisis, but this is the time when they need you the most. If your child has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, it will likely take some time for them to adjust to their new reality and accept their new limitations. However, there are a number of ways in which you can help them through this difficult time:

• Be patient and understanding. Your child may be struggling with feelings of depression or hopelessness as well as anxiety itself—and they may not express these feelings in a way that makes sense to you. For example, if they say something like “I’m just sad” or “I’m having another bad day,” then try not to judge them too quickly by assuming that their sadness isn’t real or isn’t connected somehow with what’s going on inside their mind and body.
• Be a good listener. When your child has something important going on in his life—such as learning how to manage their symptoms while attending school full-time, they’ll often want someone who will listen without judgment until they feel heard. Become the person they can talk to. Create a space that is safe and easy for them to let down their guard and express how they are feeling. Outlets like this for emotional expression are paramount for effecting positive change. 
• Avoid the use of language that invalidates their feelings. This  includes common phrases like ‘don’t be anxious,’ ‘just get over it, push through,’ and ‘stop worrying so much.’ These phrases send the message that your teen should not be feeling how they are feeling and this can lead to an increased battle with anxiety.  Instead, encourage them to pursue important things while letting anxiety come along until it naturally passes. Remind them that emotions are not permanent and help them connect to their reasons to persevere. This will help your anxious teenager.

Counseling options to help your anxious teenager

If you want more knowledge on how to help your anxious teenager, visit our webpage on teenage counseling. Counseling is a proven way in helping teenagers overcome anxiety and other mental health disorders. We provide regular counseling sessions for teenagers in Florida who are struggling and would like somebody to talk to. A great way to help your teenager overcome anxiety is to guide them to a therapist, who is trained to help.