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Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers: 6 Best Ways an Online Therapist Can Help

Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers: 6 Best Ways an Online Therapist Can Help

Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers: 6 Ways an Online Therapist Can Help

anxietyAnxiety can be described as a feeling of constant worry that something awful is going to happen. Usually, it happens even in the absence of a trigger. You might not know what is causing that feeling of impending doom and might not be able to calm yourself down. Anxiety can also be described as the feeling of a fight or flight response even in the absence of an actual threat.

The body physically reacts to make you feel anxious. This feeling can be described as having butterflies in the stomach. Trembling, nausea, sweating, stress, and fear are some symptoms of anxiety. It is usually very common to feel anxious at certain times in life when you cannot anticipate what is going to happen. For example, while you are waiting for an exam result or when you are walking alone on a deserted street at night.

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Anxiety is like a response that aids survival in humans by triggering the fight or flight response. Sometimes anxiety ends when the situation is over or if the trigger is removed. In some cases, it can also happen without a specific situation.

It is very common and normal to feel anxious. Anxiety can sometimes be confused with stress. Stress is a response to situations where you feel challenged or pressurised. It could also happen when you are trying to complete a goal or if there is a sense of urgency. It is very normal to feel stressed when you have something significant to be worried about.

Stress has similar symptoms such as increased heart rate, breathing, and muscle tension. However, there is a slight difference between anxiety and stress. Anxiety mostly occurs and goes away irrespective of the trigger causing it. Stress is a result of something beyond your control or something you have very less control over. Stress is also a survival mechanism that makes you more productive or active. The difference between anxiety and stress lies in the degree of fear and the hold you have on controlling that feeling.

Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers.

This is a general perspective on stress and anxiety which occurs to people of all ages including children, teenagers and adults. However, during their teenage, adolescents face trouble in finding themselves and seeking independence. It is absolutely normal to fear the unknown but in some cases, this feeling of anxiety interferes with the normal growth and functioning of an adolescent. They go through a lot of changes and challenges during this age, both academically, socially, and physically.

Want to know about the signs or symptoms of anxiety ? Read here.

For example, adolescents who are early maturers feel anxious about how others will perceive them. Similarly, late maturers feel left out when their peers go through the bodily changes before them. Teenagers are usually very worried about their identity, how they look accepted by peers, and their academic performance. As they become more independent with age and find themselves, they feel more anxious about their responsibilities, capabilities, and skills. Feeling anxious about not achieving a certain standard they wish to accomplish is not a bad thing. However, when they start losing control over their anxious thoughts, it starts interfering with their growth and normal functioning.

Anxiety can sometimes act as a motivating factor and challenge them to do their best. But when this feeling starts affecting them too much, it could probably turn into a disorder that ultimately sabotages their growth.

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As a parent, you must be concerned about the mental health of your adolescent child. Helping preteens and teenagers manage their anxiety can help encourage positive behaviors like proper stress management and coping ability. Teaching them how to cope with the challenges they face in a healthy manner can promote healthy growth and reduce the likelihood of them developing mental disorders later in adulthood.

Here is how you can help your Teanager Child learn healthy coping mechanisms.

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  1. Encourage your child to communicate: Sometimes just talking about the challenges and problems being faced can reduce anxiety and increase the chances of having a solution. Parents can provide their input in helping the child deal with a problem they might be facing. Encouraging healthy communication from the child can help you understand your child better and give you a chance to help them in taking the right decisions.
  2. Make sure your child feels heard: Acknowledging your child’s feelings and respecting them is an ideal way to make them feel heard. Anxiety is very much real, even though the reason for it might be unrealistic. Showing confidence and trust in your child can help them cope with the problem and find a fruitful solution themselves. Increasing independence in teenagers makes them more confident. Constantly telling your child not to worry is not a very constructive way. Instead, teach them to trust themselves and their capabilities more. Showing warmth and compassion will help your child deal with their challenges better. anxiety
  3. Appreciate and encourage courageous behavior: Teaching your child to set realistic and small goals for themselves will help them take positive steps toward the outcome they desire. Don’t force your child to face situations they are not comfortable with. Learn what you are child is ready for and don’t coerce them into something they fear. Facing fears to overcome them doesn’t always work with teenagers. It could instill a deeper fear which might haunt them for life.
  4. Teach your child to be kind to themselves: appreciate their capabilities and boost their confidence using positive self-talk. Praising your child for doing something they have always been anxious about is a great way to teach them that if they try they will succeed. Role modeling healthy behavior is also very important to teach children how to manage their mental health. Tell them your experiences and show them how it is done.
  5. Make your child feel safe: As a parent, you should always make sure that your child feels that they can rely on you and come to you in case something goes wrong. Your children should not fear your reaction to a problem they are in. Instead, they should have faith in you and that you will help them if they need comes. Spend time with your child regularly. Explore your child’s likes and dislikes. Make sure your child trusts you and is comfortable talking about anything to you.And anxiety
  6. Educate your child about healthy lifestyle choices: working out, going for a walk, or taking up a sport can help your child think clearly and find constructive solutions to their problems. Encourage a healthy diet and plenty of sleep. Make sure your child does not get involved in alcohol or any other drugs. Teach them breathing and relaxation exercises so that de can be more mindful in their date today activities.

So when should you be worried?

If after doing everything, you still think your teenager child is unable to cope with his or her anxiety disorders, it is always a good idea to seek the opinion of a mental health practitioner. If you see your child feeling constantly nervous and fearful, fidgeting, or trembling during an intimidating situation, it might be an anxiety disorder. If you are child is socially withdrawing from interacting with peers and pulling back from family activities something could be worrying them.

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Anxiety disorder is a constant state of mind. It is usually a disorder a mental health practitioner is the best person to go to in case you feel concerned about it. Anxiety can be easily treated with professional treatment. A variety of online therapies have been developed to correctly diagnose and treat anxiety which affects the growth and development of teenagers in the long run. A combination of CBT, REBT, medicines and behavioural counselling can aid the healthy development of your child.

Talk to an Online Therapist now and get help to overcome Anxiety disorders. 

Read More on Anxiety Disorder, Symptoms and Treatments :

Anxiety Affecting Your Health? 7 Ways You Can Handle It

6 Effective Ways To Overcome Anxiety 

Treating Anxiety Disorder

 

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