Signs That Your Teen May Be Struggling With Anxiety
Anxiety is a common experience that many individuals navigate on a daily basis, regardless of age. With the last several years of the pandemic and the ongoing mental health crisis among adolescents and teenagers, it’s important to understand how anxiety might show up and impact the mental health and overall wellness of teenagers.
The Impact of Anxiety On Teens
In their teen years, an individual is in the midst of a challenging developmental stage. This consists of the exploration of their identity. As well as how they connect with their peers and loved ones, and how/ where they fit. This is all while undergoing many psychological and physical changes.
While self-exploration is important and the physical changes inevitable, challenges can arise in navigating and regulating thoughts and feelings.
“When left unchecked, anxiety can make our lives feel smaller and disconnected. Holistic healing involves exploring anxiety as a distress signal that something might be needed from the environment and from others.” - Resha Altai, ACSW
Possible Triggers of Anxiety
Anxiety starts with a variety of factors and situations. But what triggers anxious thoughts and feelings looks different for everyone. In our work with both teens and adults, the common root causes of anxious thoughts and feelings originate from different factors. Typical factors include past trauma, stress, or even a family history of anxiety.
Signs That Could Signal Anxiety in Teenagers
Below are some symptoms that may signal your teen has anxiety and may benefit from support:
Difficulty sleeping
Frequent self-Isolation or avoidance of social situations
Irritability and/or sudden shifts in mood
Persistent or unmanageable fear of new situations
Difficulty maintaining concentration
Frequent stomach aches or digestion issues
How We Approach Anxiety With Teens
It’s important for teens to feel safe and grounded. Our holistic anxiety therapists prioritize building rapport with our clients with both in-person and online teen therapy. This is an essential factor for therapeutic work. From there, teens will begin to develop more self-awareness and tools for navigating all that they’re feeling. As well as how it impacts their wellness across the board. Our teen therapists use a combination of insight-oriented therapy along with practical tools for emotion regulation, self-soothing when anxious, and building resilience around difficult feelings. This can help a teen move from feeling overwhelmed and confused to engaged in their own growth, life and well-being.
“I think the hard work of regulating one’s anxiety begins with honoring that the anxiety we feel is valid and that it makes sense. I think that it is important for teenagers to connect with themselves through their passions, interests, curiosities, and deeply listening to what they need.” - Imuri Pacheco LMFT
We see symptoms of anxiety in a teen or adult as an invitation to explore that person’s whole experience. It means validating the experience your teen is having and working with them to process it. Beyond the cultivation of trust and safety, our Los Angeles therapists understand that anxiety isn’t just a collection of symptoms. Anxiety has an impact on the client’s whole person—mind, body, and soul. Turning toward anxiety with the help of a professional is important. It can be a powerful way through the pain to get to the other side. Learn how teen therapy in Los Angeles, CA can help your teen!
Start Teen Therapy in Los Angeles, CA
At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, we have a wonderful team of therapists who work with teens and adolescents experiencing anxiety. Anxiety symptoms shouldn’t control your teen’s life. Follow these simple steps to help get started with teen therapy.
Contact us for a free consultation
Meet with one of our skilled teen therapists
See your teen start living freely again
Other Services Offered At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy
Our team of holistic LA therapists is here to support you on your unique healing journey. We provide a wide range of mental health services — both through online therapy statewide in California as well as in-person at our Los Angeles, CA office. Other services we offer include depression treatment, teen therapy, grief counseling, eating disorders, stress management therapy, and LGBTQ+ therapy. We would be honored to support you in learning new coping methods to help you cope with future anxiety symptoms. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ, about us, or groups page.