From the beginning of time, the adolescent years have always been some of the most difficult that a person will ever have to go through. There are so many changes taking place in every area of the young person's life. There are mental changes, physical developments, hormonal changes, emotions that are in a whirlwind, and their social lives are taking on new aspects, as well. For many teens, all of these changes can be far more than a little bit overwhelming. This generation of teens have it even harder than many of those in generations past. There have been increases in teen violence, drug and alcohol use, and sexual activity, while there have been decreases in family values, educational standards, and moral absolutes.
We are, as a society, seeing more and more teens that are dealing with anxiety disorders, some medically diagnosed and others that are obvious with or without a doctor's label placed on them. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can very from person to person and there are many different signs that can be watched for. According to Medical News Today, the most common symptoms of anxiety are the following:
Trembling
Churning stomach
Nausea
Diarrhea
Headache
Backache
Heart palpitations
Numbness or "pins and needles" in arms, hands or legs
Sweating/flushing
Restlessness
Easily tired
Trouble concentrating
Irritability
Muscle tension
Frequent urination
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Being easily startled
Obviously, these symptoms would be very difficult to live with, most especially during the adolescent years. There can be many causes of anxiety disorders, more even than the number of symptoms, but there are some that are especially common among teens.
*Peer Pressure and Stress-There is so much peer pressure today, quite probably far more than there was in years past. Teens are encountering pressure to do the things that most of us did, such as smoking, drinking, sex, and general "partying", but there are many other things that are fairly new on the teen scene, like self-mutilation, very dangerous chemically based homemade narcotic substances, raves, and other things. The stress of these choices can be very overwhelming, as the pressure is almost constant for many teens.
*Fitting In-All teens want to find a group that they feel like they fit in with. When a teen feels like they can't find this place, they can become very anxious and begin to display the signs of a true anxiety disorder.
*Educational/Academic Stress-Academic stress is very difficult for some teens to deal with, especially if continued education after the high school years are expected of them. High school years are filled with learning, both in the classroom and in the form of homework, and for those students who have struggled before this point, there is often a complete feeling of failure and hopelessness as the pressure mounts during these years.
*Expectations, Especially Parental-No one wants to feel like they are not meeting the expectations of the people that they admire and care about. When a teen feels that their parents have expectations that they aren't able to meet, they can feel incredible disappointment in themselves. This disappointment can lead to anxiety as they constantly strive to do better and more, but still find themselves unable to do enough.
*Abuse of any Sort-Living with abuse, either presently or with the memories of past abuse, is another issue that can lead to an anxiety disorder. The teen may feel fearful, unworthy of being treated well and loved, nervous, or unusually insecure due to the abuse. Even if they are not abused themselves, but are raised in an atmosphere of abuse, these feelings can occur.
*Low Self-Esteem-Low self-esteem is a problem that is increasing among our youth. There are families that are being torn apart by divorce every day, leaving children as the true victims. They are left with questions about whether or not the now absent parent loves them, why they weren't enough for him or her to stay, and whether they were the cause for the destruction of the family. They aren't feeling valued or worthwhile. They are hurting, often in silence, and this pain can come out in a terrible anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders among teens are most definitely on the rise. Without treatment from a trained professional, such as a therapist, this is very likely to follow them into adulthood. Anxiety can destroy the future hopes and dreams of these young people, never allowing them to reach their full potential. They are our future and we should be doing all that we can to help these teens in need. The good news is that there is help available. If you see signs of an anxiety disorder in your teen, call someone and get them the help that they need to truly thrive.