Understanding anxiety in teens and young adults
We go through tons of change during our teen and young adult years. Life can feel like an array of ups and downs. Some of our best memories are made, and, sometimes, so are some of our worst. With the constant shifts and changes, we can find ourselves experiencing significant stress or anxiety. Now, to be fair, some level of anxiety is completely normal as we grow older. There is a certain amount of healthy worry that can create safety and boundaries around us to keep us safe. However, it is important to notice when it starts to become too much to bear or begins interfering with our normal routine. The purpose of this introductory post is to discuss what anxiety is, how it usually manifests in teens and young adults, and why seeking therapy may be a significant step in managing it before it becomes too overbearing.
What is anxiety?
Simply put, anxiety is a response to stress. It is a natural, and healthy feeling that can present as apprehension, unease, or worry when we are faced with unknown or situations that could be threatening. This being said, it is completely normal to experience anxiety as a healthy human and it can sometimes be helpful when we need to stay safe or alert. When anxiety starts to cross the boundary into becoming chronic, or we find ourselves overwhelmed by worry, it can make its way into a disorder, permeating every part of our lives.
How anxiety present in teens and young adults
As we have studied anxiety more over the years, research has come to show that it presents more on a spectrum than a concrete set of symptoms for every single person. It can manifest differently from person to person, but some symptoms are more common than others. Here is what you can look out for:
Excessive worry: When it feels like our worries are never-ending, or we are constantly thinking about and planning our future, this can become an area of concern. This can be especially concerning if there is no apparent cause of stress or discord having to do with future events, academic performance, home life, or social situations.
Physical symptoms: Anxiety in our body can look like a rapid or skipping heartbeat, sweating, trembling or shaking, and even stomachaches. Sometimes the physical symptoms can fly under the radar for longer because they may be thought of as unrelated health issues.
Avoidance: Going to great lengths to avoid triggering situations such as school, work, social gatherings, or even leaving home, can be a sign of concerning anxiety.
Irrational fears: Having intense fear or phobias about specific things or situations can be a sign of anxiety. Some examples of this are irrational fear of public speaking, flying in a plane, or talking to new people are particularly common in teens and young adults.
Changes in behavior: When anxiety begins to take over, we can see significant changes in behavior like withdrawal from family and close friends, decline in academic performance, and increased irritability or sensitivity.
Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep is incredibly common with young people experiencing anxiety.
Perfectionism: Anxiety can also look like an obsession with perfection, including a fear of making mistakes.
The importance of seeking therapy
Recognizing that we have anxiety is a crucial part of our steps toward healing. This can be done on our own but can also be caught by a loved one who notices something is “off” about us. Once we recognize this, though, it is important to seek help. Therapy can be an outstanding source of support to help guide young adults and teens with anxiety. Therapy has a few benefits for those of us who struggle with anxiety:
Learning coping strategies: A trained therapist can help us learn effective coping strategies to manage anxiety. Learning how to cope in a healthy fashion can assist greatly with regaining control over our lives and reduce the impact of anxiety on our day-to-day lives.
Identifying triggers: Therapy can be beneficial in helping us identify what triggers our anxious behaviors. Knowing what triggers anxiety is the first step to working on the deeper issues at play.
Building resilience: Working with a therapist can also help foster resilience, which improves our ability to “bounce back” from something that challenges us. Research shows that better resilience is equal to better mental health.
Preventing escalation: Living anxious without help leads to more severe issues later. There are long-term consequences to remaining in an anxious state. Therapy can be beneficial for preventing those complications
A supportive environment: Therapy is a safe space to explore our anxieties without judgment and express our innermost thoughts and feelings. This can be incredibly helpful in providing relief from isolation, a common consequence of anxiety.
Anxiety can be extremely disruptive and offsetting. When it becomes overwhelming, it is important to remember that help is available, but we have to seek it out for ourselves and be ready to work for change. Therapy offers a path that can help us to understand and manage anxiety that comes up in our lives. The goal is to regain control of the anxiety that has sneakily taken over.
therapyxhalle Psychotherapeutic Services has a desire to be a support to those dealing with anxiety. Halle Crutch is a therapist serving the city of Southlake, TX, and beyond with in-person and telehealth services for the state of Texas. Supervised by Mary Dainty, PhD, LPC-S, Halle is accepting new clients! Are you ready to begin your healing journey? Start by requesting an appointment.
