Teenage Anxiety Disorder

Approximately 13 out of every 100 children and adolescents aged 9 to 17 suffers from an anxiety disorder, according to the National Mental Health Information Center, but many parents are unaware of the symptoms of these metal disorders.

Causes

• The anxiety caused by school and social pressures are possible causes of anxiety disorder in teenagers, but there is often no specific cause, reports the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.

Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder

• Symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder in your teenager include hesitance or reluctance to be the center of attention and avoiding eye contact. Social Anxiety also causes difficulty speaking in front of others or reading aloud, reports the Anxiety Disorder Association of America.

Features of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

• Teenagers with generalized anxiety disorder are often absent from school due to physical symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea that have no medical cause. Generalized anxiety disorder causes teenagers to be irritable, restless, tense, tired and unable to make decisions, reports Penn State University.

Effects

• Anxiety disorders often affect performance in school, warns the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology. These disorders also contribute to the use of drug and alcohol by teens.

Treatment

• Cognitive behavioral therapy helps adolescents learn to deal with their anxiety in everyday situations, according to the National Mental Health Information Center. Prescription medications are also beneficial to most teens.