Anxiety

For parents/carers

Anxiety is very common in teenagers and can take many forms of general fearfulness. Being anxious is common to all of us and is part of development.

Developmentally arising anxieties include separation anxiety when you are around 2 or 3 years old, fears of the dark and other specific fears in early childhood, fear of death in middle childhood and social worries in teenage years. However, sometimes anxieties that are part of development become anxiety disorders.

An anxiety disorder is an anxiety condition that lasts a long time, has a lasting negative impact on the child or young person, is developmentally not expected (for example, separation anxiety in your teens). Some examples of anxiety disorders include Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

You may be aware of what may have triggered the anxiety disorder (for example, a frightening experience) but sometimes it may not have an easily understood cause. Anxiety disorders respond very well to psychological treatment together with self-care that includes a balanced diet, good amounts of sleep and exercise.

Emotionally Based School Avoidance

Children and young people can feel anxious about going to school or college for many reasons. Sometimes the anxiety that’s felt can be so high that it can get in the way of going to school or college at all. This is called Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) – find out more about EBSA here.

Why not discuss your concerns with your GP and find out what resources are available in your area?

You can also try the Clear Fear app. It works on helping managing thoughts, behaviours, emotions and physical symptoms of anxiety. Developed by a clinical psychologist with feedback from young people and other clinicians, it uses a form of treatment called Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT.

Four steps to assist with change

LEARN TO IDENTIFY

  • Talking about their anxiety can sometimes make children and young people feel more anxious
  • Leave ample time to discuss since being rushed makes anxiety worse
  • Having a task to focus on whilst you talk may help an anxious teenager to feel calmer. Rather than asking them why they are anxious, find out what might trigger their anxiety. Be prepared for them not to know
  • Anxious children and young people require lots of reassurance and it’s a balance to provide them with the right amount
  • Use facts to help them understand and get them to do some research on expanding on them. You can also suggest reading this website or other information on anxiety together
  • Anxiety can make you fear the worst, so patience and tolerance is very helpful. If your child or teenager thinks you might be cross they will become more anxious. Reassuring them that anxiety can be resolved and getting them involved in seeking help with you is a helpful way forward

  • Talk to your teenager and find out about their symptoms. If they have many physical symptoms, it’s helpful to explain that these are a natural body reaction to fear and that they can be managed with support
  • Find out what might be causing the anxiety and see if there may be a way to resolve this. Encourage them to face a fear they may be avoiding by facing their fear one step at a time
  • The stem4 free app Clear Fear provides strategies to help manage anxious thoughts, feelings and behaviours, together with setting positive goals and targets, an audio tape to manage panic symptoms, some breathing exercises and even some gifs and jokes to distract
  • The stem4 free app Combined Minds has many helpful strategies to manage anxiety too

  • Keep the following links to help your teenager maintain change:
    • Your GP who will refer you to CAMHS, Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, Counsellors
    • Young Minds 0808 802 5544 (parent helpline) www.youngminds.org.uk

Visit our Further Advice page for details of other organisations that can help.

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