Parent Support

How To Recognize Anxiety in Teens 

In order to identify teen anxiety, it’s important to learn more about signs and symptoms. What’s the difference between signs of anxiety in teens vs. symptoms of anxiety in teens? Warning signs are behavioral changes that can be observed by parents, other family members, teachers, and peers. Symptoms, on the other hand, are a teen’s inner experiences, both emotional and physical, as they struggle with anxiety. That’s why both observation and conversation are necessary in order to take a teen’s mental health temperature. 

Regular parent-child communication can actually prevent mental health disorders from taking hold or getting worse. Research shows that symptoms of anxiety in teens are more common and more severe when adolescents’ connection with their parents has become weaker. So, while talking with a teen may not be easy, it’s worth the effort. 

Signs of Anxiety in Teens 

Here are some of the behavioral signs of anxiety in teens to watch for: 

• Performance dip in school, poor report cards, poor testing results 

• Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy 

• Noticeable drop in social interactions 

• Negative self-talk, such as “I can’t do this,” “I’m not good at anything”; or general negativity about life and other people 

• Trouble sleeping at night, exhaustion for no apparent reason, always worn down 

• Loss of appetite and disordered eating, inability to enjoy foods they used to love 

• Irritability and other changes in mood and behavior 

• Substance and/or alcohol abuse and other risky behaviors 

• Avoiding people, places, and things that trigger anxious feelings. 

Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens 

Anxiety symptoms in teens include the following internal experiences, both psychological and physical: 

• Recurring feelings of worry and stress about everyday life that feel impossible to control 

• Restlessness, jumpiness, being on edge 

• Constant sense of dread 

• Focusing on negative thoughts and outcomes, known as “catastrophizing” 

• Difficulty concentrating 

• Having a hard time relaxing 

• Muscle tension 

• Stomachaches or headaches; digestive issues 

• Nausea, sweating, and shaking (particularly associated with social anxiety and acute anxiety) 

• Believing that worrying about something is the only way to prevent it from happening 

• Panic attacks. 

If a teen shares with you that they are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, they might have an anxiety disorder. At this point, seeking a proper diagnosis and discussing appropriate care with a licensed professional is essential.