How to Recognize Teenage Anxiety

Anxiety was once considered a health concern for depression-prone adults only. Medical professionals today, however, identify anxiety as the most common mental health disorder among teenagers. If not treated, anxiety can progress into depression and other serious mental diseases. Read further to learn how you can recognize anxiety in its early stages.

Instructions

• 1

  Watch the teen's reactions to social situations such as eating lunch in the school cafeteria, participating in school events and attending school field trips. Anxiety-stricken teenagers avoid these situations, believing they cannot succeed at them.

• 2

  Determine the teen's feelings and behavior toward peers. Teenagers suffering from anxiety compare themselves to peers constantly. They feel inadequate in either appearance, physical or mental ability or in social status. These teens withdraw from their current friendships and don't seek out new ones.

• 3

  Question teachers and school health personnel about the teen's demeanor while at school. Anxious teens often appear pale and have gloomy or panic stricken facial expressions. They avoid making eye contact with others, especially in the halls. Also, these teenagers require constant reassurance from teachers and peers that they have performed well or are accepted.

• 4

  Track the teen's attendance record. Anxiety prone teens avoid going to school by complaining about trivial illnesses such as, "My nose is stuffy" or "My arm hurts." Anxious teens use these general complaints to attempt to sink into solitude where they don't have to confront others or face challenges.

• 5

  Ask the teen if he frequently experiences dizziness, chest pain, sweating, headaches, shaking, accelerated heart beat, shortness of breath, stomach aches or separation from surroundings. Some or all of these physical reactions occur during a panic attack. A routine occurrence, such as coming face to face with a peer, may trigger a panic attack.

• 6

  Look for signs that the teen is terrified about future events that may never happen such as fearing they might never graduate from high school or that they would suffer a debilitating illness. Such concerns usually have no grounding in the teen's present condition and should prompt a parent or guardian to seek professional help.