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In this article, Izzy talks about anxiety and how it affects teens, including an interview from a GPHS student.
Mental health: Anxiety in teens
Mental health: Anxiety in teens
By: Izzy Westfall
By: Izzy Westfall
Disclaimer: This article discusses sensitive information regarding mental health that some feel comfortable reading. Statements in this article may trigger those who are faced with similar challenges. Although the goal of this article is to bring awareness and educate about anxiety disorders in teens and also help those who may be struggling with it.
We have an interview from a student here at Grants Pass High School. Everyone's story is different, but everyone's feelings are valid. Remember: there is always help if you need it.
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Mental health seems to be something that society is slowly starting to care less and less about when it should be one of our main concerns. One of the most common mental health disorders is General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Other anxiety disorders include: Panic Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, and Post-Trauma Stress Disorder. The National Institute of Health provides some statistics, stating that “ An estimated 31.1% of U.S adults experienced any anxiety disorder in their lives.” The general statement of Anxiety Disorder is that anxiety looks different on everyone. Some may experience anxiety in a serious way, while others may experience it in a mild or moderate way. The type of anxiety disorder and its extremeness also varies from person to person.
Mental health is a serious subject that a lot of people neglect, though that should be one of the most important priorities in a person's life. As May approaches, bringing Mental Health Awareness month, it is important to make teens and young adults understand the different types of mental health disorders. Sometimes, it is helpful for those who do struggle with GAD to feel like there are not alone and others are going through similar struggles.
Anonymous GPHS student interview
Anonymous GPHS student interview
Interviewing GPHS students is important so we can create awareness of mental health disorders such as GAD. Depression is another common mental illness with which young adults tend to struggle. Emma Kauana and Emily Hyde from Ballard Brief state, “ Anxiety and depression are becoming increasingly prevalent among young adults in the U.S, with both disorders increasing 63% from 2005 to 2017”. As those mental health disorders increase, the want to bring awareness and educate also rises.
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Why did you agree to be interviewed?
Why did you agree to be interviewed?
“ Because I feel like a lot of people should be more announced on this topic”
“For me, anxiety is more of just always a panic, not even like scared. It's just always having that feeling in your gut that you're doing something wrong or that everyone is just always there. A lot of people don't know that people have anxiety because they've had it for so long that they think it's normal and they mask it really well. It's more of always hearing everything and always just knowing that something could go wrong or you could do something wrong.”
What is anxiety to you and what does it look like for you?
What is anxiety to you and what does it look like for you?
When you're feeling anxious, what is going through your mind?
When you're feeling anxious, what is going through your mind?
“It's mostly just more scenarios on things that could happen, like if I turned in something late how many points I could get deducted off or like if I get ready too late-- if I'm a couple of minutes late-- what people are going to think about me.”
“It makes it really hard to focus in class because I'm always worried about something else, like worrying about homework I have to do in my other classes so I don't get work done in that class and then I just have more work building up and up.”
How does anxiety impact your day to day life?
How does anxiety impact your day to day life?
What is your biggest struggle when it comes to your anxiety?
What is your biggest struggle when it comes to your anxiety?
“Being able to just go out with friends and kinda just not feel like everyone is judging me and even just expressing myself with school because you feel like everyone is looking at you but they're not because they don't care.”
“When I don't have plans, like when people just don't make plans at all or when teachers don't give specific information about topics, like if they say something, do they want it to be formal or have it sound fun?”
What are things that trigger anxiety for you?
What are things that trigger anxiety for you?
What advice or tips could you give someone with anxiety?
What advice or tips could you give someone with anxiety?
“Mostly, it's all in your head and what you just have to realize is that all the things that you’re worrying about are just natural things that happen and you can't stop yourself from worrying but you kinda just have to sit there and realize that you can't control how life goes and everything happens for a reason, but all you can do is control how you react to it and how you benefit from it.”
“It depends on the situation. During school, it's moderate, but if I'm out in public it's extreme because I hate people.”
There are Three different types of ways people experience anxiety: extreme moderate and light which one would you say you have?
There are Three different types of ways people experience anxiety: extreme moderate and light which one would you say you have?
RESOURCES for help:
RESOURCES for help:
Mark Johnston - Mental Health Therapist mjohnstun@grantspass.k12.or.us
Shani Hulst - Social and Emotional Counselor shulst@grantspass.k12.or.us
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Crisis Text Hotline US: Text HOME to 741741 to be connected with a crisis counselor
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