We all experience anxiety. When we feel stress, or when we encounter a situation that makes us feel unsure or afraid, anxiety sets in. It puts us on" high alert" so that if the thing we are unsure about tries to hurt us, we can react quickly. Anxiety is an important part of being human.
Though we all experience it, anxiety can be really complex. This is especially true for teenagers whose developing minds are still learning how to process and cope with a wide range of new experiences. Experts estimate that around 3% of teens will experience some type of anxiety disorder that requires formal intervention. This number might be even higher because stigma and judgement can prevent teens from seeking help.
When should you be concerned? How do you know when it's "normal" anxiety or when it's something more? The first thing to understand is that anxiety is a continuum. It ranges from those every day stressors that motivate you to get things done, to significant or debilitating worry that interferes with your daily life.
On the left, manageable anxiety is the result of a specific problem or situation. It's realistic, meaning that the thing you are anxious about is likely to happen, and you can tolerate it even if it feels uncomfortable. Imagine a student whose worried about an upcoming exam. They're anxious because they don't totally understand the material. They stay up late studying and don't get enough sleep. The next day they have a hard time concentrating on anything else. They worry they haven't studied hard enough and start to experience physical symptoms like shaking or sweating, headache or stomach ache. These symptoms are uncomfortable but mild, and our student feels better when they use calming strategies like deep breathing, or movement, or meditation. As our student writes their exam their anxiety starts to go away. They might still worry about the outcome of the test, they might even feel like they bombed it. The worry is smaller though and they can focus on other things as they move on with their day.
Sometimes anxiety travels toward the other end of the continuum, where it's more difficult to manage alone. If anxiety shows up, seemingly out of nowhere, or sticks around even when a problem or situation is resolved, if it's related to something that's unlikely to happen, or if it keeps you from doing things you want and need to do, it's important to reach out for additional support. If your anxiety makes you feel unsafe or out of control, you should speak to a mental health or medical professional right away.
With the right kind of support, anxiety across the continuum is treatable. Teens who experience anxiety or anxiety disorders can recover and learn how to cope so anxiety doesn't interfere with their life. Parents, caregivers and other trusted adults can help teens by understanding the anxiety continuum and knowing when to connect them with a medical or mental health professional who can help assess their anxiety and make a plan to treat it.
For more information visit Anxiety Canada. Students in SECPSD can reach out to their teacher or school's Student Services Counsellor for more information or a referral to a mental health professional.
