Anxiety Disorder in Adolescents and Young Adults
For adolescents and young adults anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. Things like tests, meeting new people, speaking in public, going on a date, or competing in a sports event can cause teens and young adults to feel apprehensive. However, some teens and young adults react much more strongly to stressful situations than others. Even thinking about a stressful situation may cause them great distress.
An anxiety disorder is a mental health condition that involve excessive amounts of anxiety, fear, nervousness, worry, or dread. Anxiety that is too constant or too intense can cause an adolescent or young adult to feel preoccupied, distracted, tense, or always on alert. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in teens and young adults. There are many different types of anxiety disorders, all of which have different symptoms. However, all anxiety disorders in teens and young adults share a few similarities. When a teen or young adult has an anxiety disorder, any kind, the anxiety occurs too often, is too strong, is out of proportion to the present situation, and affects the teen's or young adult's daily life and happiness.
Many teens and young adults find ways to cope with the high anxiety they feel. It's important for them to recognize their emotions, to know what they're feeling and why they're feeling that way. Recognizing the types of situations that cause their anxiety is helpful as well.
Treatment Options for Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders can be treated by mental health professionals, or therapists. A therapist can look at the symptoms the teen or young adult is dealing with, diagnose the specific anxiety disorder, and create a plan to help them get relief. If you are the parent or loved one of a teen or young adult who struggles with an anxiety disorder contact Therapy Insider today.