3 Tips to Help a Teen Cope with Anxiety

Slamming doors, tantrums, sudden crying fits, and dark conversations during dinner… If these are common occurrences in your family, you're probably raising a teenager.

Teens often have little to no control over their emotions. And while many parents may dismiss this as anxiety or unnecessary rebellion, it can be a sign of a child struggling with anxiety.

“Parents don’t always know how to help their children when they’re feeling anxious or on the verge of a panic attack, and methods that worked in the past may no longer be helpful when teens are now facing new challenges,” says psychologist Natasha Riard.

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Regardless of age, psychologists say that people who feel anxious have a fight reaction, a withdrawal reaction, meaning they withdraw into themselves or invent stressful situations. “Young people often avoid what they are feeling and do their best to pretend that everything is fine by pretending to be busy in a chaotic situation. What we see on their face or their behavior may not correspond to what is really happening,” says psychologist Lisa Coloca.

Three tips to help an anxious teenager:

#1 Value their feelings

Parents often underestimate their children’s struggles and the emotions they’re feeling. “Stop using your adult brain to solve a teenage problem. Telling them it’s going to get better isn’t going to help them because they don’t feel good in those moments,” said Michelle Savage, another psychologist. When children come to their parents with concerns, reassurance isn’t always the answer. Parents should keep in mind that children don’t always want advice, but often they just want to feel seen and heard.

#2 Share your personal experiences

When a child or teen is feeling anxious, it is often helpful to let them know that they are not alone. Telling them personal stories of similar situations will help them understand that it is possible to overcome the challenges they are facing.

#3 Timing is everything

When a child is feeling anxious or is having a panic attack, the last thing they need to hear is advice on how to fix the situation. Don't expect your child to be able to talk about it and still have their anxiety under control. You need to give them time to calm down and then talk about the situations and things that are bothering them.

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Source: CNBC