Many of us are experiencing increases in anxiety recently, due to the political environment, climate change and natural disasters, health and wellness, technology, and the drive to succeed for self and family. Doctors and mental health professionals are also seeing an increase in the last few years of clinical anxiety disorders in children and teens, with the highest increase seen in young adults. You may have read the recent feature in the New York Times, which asks, “Why are more American teenagers than ever suffering from severe anxiety?” or have seen the screening of the documentary “Angst” throughout the Bay Area, which highlights causes, effects, and solutions of anxiety. As a Marriage and Family Therapist working in community and private practice settings, I often see an increase in symptoms of anxiety for teens and families right after the transition to a new school year.
What differentiates the normal and adaptive anxiety that we all experience (to warn us of danger or to avoid situations that could be unsafe) from debilitating anxiety or a clinical anxiety disorder? Anxiety needs to be addressed when it impairs functioning or negatively impacts well-being. Children or teens may get “stuck” in excessive or unfounded worries or fears, and are unable to function in areas such as school, sleep, or daily routines. They may also experience physical symptoms, such as headaches, panic attacks, and stomach problems. When severe, anxiety can contribute to suicide or self-harm behaviors, which I discussed in my recent post, “Reasons Why We Need to Talk About Children & Teens’ Mental Health.”
Anxiety Disorders (which include Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Specific Phobia, and Agoraphobia) are caused by a combination of circumstances, which includes life events, heredity, temperament, and biochemical factors. There is a correlation between parenting styles that are high in control and low in warmth and the development of anxiety in children or teens. It should be noted that suffering from anxiety crosses racial, ethnic and socioeconomic lines. There is discussion about the stigma for privileged teens to acknowledge that anxiety is negatively impacting their lives, as they may seem to “have it all” and don’t have to worry about safety, crime, or poverty on a day-to-day basis. However, these kids and teens are not immune from risk and may internalize values that contribute to anxiety, such as perfectionism or overachievement. In addition, it is difficult to disentangle the increase in anxiety in children and teens from the increase over the last decade in smartphone and social media use for this age group. I recently gave a workshop to address “Parenting in the Digital Age,” and we discussed studies that demonstrate associations between excessive screen time (over two to three hours a day) and mental health risks. Anecdotally, many parents and teachers describe risk factors for anxiety based on their teens’ desire for immediate gratification and validation (in the form of likes or interactions on their social media pages) and their increased sense of rejection, loneliness, or fear of missing out when they are constantly bombarded by their peers’ curated realities.
The stress-reducing news is that anxiety can be treated effectively, particularly by working together with a qualified mental health professional, and in some cases, a doctor or psychiatrist. Types of therapy to search out for your child or teen include Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (to explore and challenge thoughts and behaviors that contribute to anxiety), Exposure Therapy (to confront fears in a safe way that reduces distress), mindfulness-based therapies (to increase awareness and strategies to manage thoughts and physical sensations that fuel anxiety), and Family Systems Therapy (to address patterns of parenting or relationships that may be contributing to or maintaining anxiety). Parents can also support their child or teen by promoting resilience and teaching/practicing coping skills such as deep breathing, relaxation, creating safe spaces, positive visualization, and promoting routines/rituals at home. Schools can also play a role in providing supportive accommodations, but it is important to strike a balance so that avoidance is not the only strategy utilized and to ensure that your child or teen is also learning and practicing coping skills.
I can help your child, teen, or family with anxiety disorders or pre-clinical anxiety. Contact me for a free consultation or to schedule an intake session. Stay updated at Family Workshop for upcoming workshops related to this topic.
