Your teen is constantly tense, irritable, and reluctant to engage in life. When should a parent take action?

Jill, a high school senior,  stands in front of the mirror trying to tame the frizz in her hair. She fights the rising panic she feels every morning wondering how she can possibly keep her grades up for college, have time for dance class, volunteer at church, and still hang out with her BFF’s. She feels overwhelmed and has no one to talk to. Across town, Mason jerks awake and realizes he overslept. As he frantically throws on clothes, he realizes he fell asleep last night before cracking the books to study for the big exam. Now his driving privileges are on the line if he gets a poor grade. Mason goes to class and wonders if he is about to die, as he feels his heart pounding in his chest while trying to answer the tough test questions. These are typical events for most teens… but what happens when the inability to cope with adolescent stress negatively impacts their lives?For both adults and teens, anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, and who doesn’t have stress in our fast-paced society? Learning how to effectively deal with stress is the key. More than 40 million Americans experience debilitating anxiety. The sad truth is that many teens go undiagnosed and live with chronic anxiety and discomfort that interferes with their quality of life. In some cases, parents, doctors, and even school officials, ignore symptoms of anxiety and attribute unacceptable actions to a weak character, manipulative tendencies, or just shrug them off as a passing phase, when in truth, a medical diagnosis and treatment is in order. It should be noted that some level of anxiety is appropriate in order to function well and preserve a level of personal safety. But, you should seek help if your teen:

• Exhibits irrational, persistent fear or worry in non-threatening situations that prevents his/her enjoyment of life,
• Worries and is constantly vigilant, leading to behavior such as irritability or insomnia,
• Develops physical symptoms, such as light-headedness, diarrhea, racing heart, and/or sweating when faced with stress, causing debilitating embarrassment or avoidance of situations.

It is these extreme responses to life circumstances that make anxiety a debilitating disorder.  Anxiety disorders are not just a phase, and one cannot just “snap out of it.” Anxiety is real, common, and can get worse if left untreated. Anxiety disorders occur in people of all races, educational backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels.
How Can a Parent Help?What is an appropriate response to life-threatening anxiety that extends over months? Talk about it!  The sooner, the better. The longer one waits, the more it impacts a teen because improper responses to life’s stresses soon become automatic, and effective coping strategies have not been explored.  Support groups can help teens feel acceptance in that they are not alone in their struggle with anxiety.  Anxiety management can be accomplished with a comprehensive plan of support and other healthy life management habits.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America offers tips for parents to help teens manage their anxiety disorder:

• Pay attention to your child’s feelings.
• Stay calm when your child becomes anxious about a situation or event.
• Recognize and praise small accomplishments.
• Don’t punish mistakes or lack of progress.
• Be flexible and try to maintain a normal routine.
• Modify expectations during stressful periods.
• Plan for transitions (For example, allow extra time in the morning if getting to school is difficult).

Anxiety is a common and treatable disorder.  If your teen had the flu, you would treat the symptoms. So, if your teen has continuing symptoms of anxiety impacting his or her ability to enjoy life, take action and seek professional advice.
For more information on Anxiety and other mental health topics:www.stressfreekids.com
www.NAMIGO.org
www.FFCMH.org