healthykids
Youthful Anxieties
When Teens
Worry Too Much
by Dr. Lawrence Shapiro
E
veryone worries, frets or feels un-
Common Conditions
easy much of the time. Worry itself
Several types of anxiety disorders may affect teenagers. Simple fears—of talking
in public or doing poorly on tests—can cause distress. When teens harbor lots of
is not bad when it serves as nature’s
fears, they can become overwhelming and lead to a panic disorder, making them
way of keeping us safe and sound.
afraid even to leave the house.
If we’re concerned about our Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a severe problem that affects about
weight, for example, we tend to eat a
1 in 100 teens. They often hide their worry about things that are inconsequential
to others, such as germs on a doorknob or cracks in a sidewalk, and may develop
better diet. If we’re discontented about
elaborate rituals to deal with their irrational ideas.
money, we work harder or save more. Another diagnosis, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), causes teens to
If we worry about our kids, we do all of
worry throughout the day and may precipitate physical problems like fatigue,
headaches and insomnia.
the things needed to keep them healthy
and happy.
Everyday Aid
Teens experience their own set of
Anxiety affects more teens than most parents realize, because they are adept at
normal worries: getting good grades;
hiding their problems. But that doesn’t mean they don’t need help. If we suspect
that a family teen worries too much, here are some simple suggestions to try.
other teens’ opinions of them; the state
of their complexion; and their clothes. • Encourage practice of daily relaxation techniques, like yoga, deep breathing, or
We also hope they show concern for
just listening to calming music.
family rules and responsibilities.
• Help them think positively, identifying the positive outcomes of a problem,
rather than the negatives.
But, worry becomes a problem for
teens and their parents if young people
• Encourage a healthy lifestyle, including good nutrition, daily exercise and a regi-
men of eight to nine hours of sleep. These habits stimulate the brain to produce
stress too often or about things that
stress-fi ghting chemicals.
don’t really matter. Psychologists refer
• Facilitate connections with others. Anxiety can lead to social isolation, which
to worry and its accompanying physi-
worsens the problem.
cal changes as anxiety, and too much
• Teach problem-solving skills, such as making a list of solutions to a challenge,
anxiety can take a serious mental and
comparing possible outcomes, and then trying the best one.
physical toll on a teen. • Encourage discussions about worries; if not with parents, then with a school
18 Oakland, Macomb, Livingston & St. Clair, MI
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