What Are the Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder?

Anxiety

Anxiety can cause a multitude of physical and mental health problems for adolescents. Identifying these symptoms helps teens suffering from anxiety receive a diagnosis or help teens already diagnosed cope with anxiety disorder. 

If you are concerned that your child, loved one, peer, or even student suffers from anxiety, these symptoms may contribute to their struggle. A certified mental health professional or an anxiety treatment program helps adolescents learn how to manage their anxiety to reduce its impact physically and mentally.

Mental Health Problems

Adolescents with anxiety disorder may suffer from symptoms impacting them mentally. Teenage years are filled with new experiences and pressure that comes with growing up. Getting into a college, academic pressure, first relationships, milestone birthdays, and even new social settings are all reasons why some teens may experience anxiety. Those diagnosed with anxiety disorder may experience negative mental emotions, such as obsessive thoughts and increased worry. 

Recognizing these signs allows you to know when to intervene and get an adolescent suffering from anxiety the help that they need. 

Increased Worry

Anxiety may lead to increased worry when it pertains to specific situations. For example, adolescents suffering with anxiety about getting into college may feel increased worry about excelling in academics and other extracurriculars that could help them stand out on college applications. Increased worry is common in those who suffer from anxiety. There are plenty of coping skills teens can learn to help overcome these feelings. Practicing coping skills and mindfulness on a daily basis will help manage feelings of worry, so they don’t overpower a person’s life.  

Obsessive Thoughts

Obsessive thoughts occur when unwelcome or involuntary thoughts become an obsession. This can become a distressing thing for those who suffer with anxiety to manage, as obsessive thoughts may take over that person’s emotions. It can be hard to get rid of obsessive thoughts for those who have not sought treatment for anxiety. The best way to reduce this symptom is by seeking help from a therapist for anxiety through individual psychotherapy

Changes in Behavior

Adolescents with anxiety may exhibit behavioral changes that can be recognized by loved ones. Drastic changes in behavior may mean a decrease in academics, lost interest in hobbies or other extracurricular activities, or even school refusal. It’s important to take note of any changes in behavior that may stem from your child’s mental health struggles. Encouraging them to communicate their emotions in a safe environment and seek help through therapy are great ways to help prevent these changes from becoming severe. 

Physical Health Problems

Physical symptoms of anxiety may include anything from panic attacks to sweating to an irregular heartbeat. Even shortness of breath may be caused by underlying anxiety disorder. By treating anxiety through a program, such as an outpatient treatment program, adolescents can learn to manage anxiety. By managing anxiety, they are reducing or preventing the impact on their physical health. 

Panic Attacks

In serious cases of anxiety disorder, some adolescents may suffer from panic attacks. Understanding triggers for anxiety is the best way to help prevent panic attacks. By recognizing triggers, adolescents will learn to either avoid these triggers or practice coping skills that will help them manage these situations. 

Sweating

When the body releases stress hormones, sweating becomes the body’s response to that anxiety. Even during the colder New England weather, sweating from anxiety can still occur. As with panic attacks, the best way to manage sweating from anxiety is by first recognizing triggers. Wearing breathable clothing is another way to help reduce the impact that sweating has on an individual. This will help them with ventilation while also reducing stress that comes with worrying about others seeing the sweat. Mindfulness and deep breathing exercises can also help reduce sweat during a stressful situation. 

Irregular Heartbeat

Heart palpitations occur when anxiety triggers the body’s Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which increases heart rate. This can feel like your heart is fluttering, beating rapidly, skipping a beat, or pounding. When this happens, learning how to practice coping skills for anxiety as well as breathing exercises are crucial to reducing the impact on your heart.

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