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What to Look For If You Believe Your Teen Is Suffering from Anxiety
Are you worried that your teenage daughter, or another girl in your life, may have an anxiety disorder? It can be hard to watch someone you love so much struggle with anxiety at such a young age. You know she has her whole life ahead of her, and that many of the things your daughter is stressed about now will likely seem very minor to her in 20 years. You know that the world isn’t ending, even if your daughter feels like it is sometimes. We know that kind of stress can make it difficult for a teen girl to get through her day-to-day life, and we want to help.
You need to know that you and your daughter are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7.1% of children in the U.S. ages 3 to 17 have a diagnosed anxiety disorder. Teens in Texas are no exception. For many teens in Texas and across the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has made mental health struggles even more difficult to overcome.
If your teenage daughter is suffering from an anxiety disorder, Roots Renewal Ranch might be a good fit for her. Our 90-day residential treatment program is designed to give girls ages 13 to 17 the opportunity to get away from the stress of everyday life and receive the treatment they need to take back their life.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
It is normal for people of all ages, including teenagers, to experience some anxiety. People often get nervous before major events or new activities. However, someone struggling with an anxiety disorder worries beyond what the situation calls for. A person with an anxiety disorder is often constantly in a state of worry about something, and once that thing is dealt with, they start to worry about something else.
In some cases, a person’s anxiety may be focused on a specific issue, which is typically referred to as a phobia. For other people, their anxiety may be more general and apply to many different parts of their life.
What Causes Anxiety in Teens?
Anxiety disorders are not typically caused by just one thing. Often, anxiety disorders are the result of a complicated combination of genetics (traits passed down from generation to generation), life history and trauma, societal factors, and her home or cultural environment. The causes of anxiety are usually outside of someone’s control. If your daughter is suffering from an anxiety disorder, it is important that you know neither you nor your daughter is to blame for her anxiety disorder.
For most teenagers, two or more of these factors are at play. This can make it difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of an anxiety disorder. However, getting to the root of the issues is often something a client works on in therapy.
Factors
Genetics
Genetic factors that may predispose her to having an increased probability for developing anxiety
If your daughter’s anxiety focuses on a specific issue, it may be easier to pinpoint the cause of her anxiety. For example, sometimes people develop intense anxiety around death or fear that people in their life are going to die after the death of a family member.Culture
Cultural practices that may cause psychological harm (like the pandemic move to virtual schooling)
If your daughter’s anxiety focuses on a specific issue, it may be easier to pinpoint the cause of her anxiety. For example, sometimes people develop intense anxiety around death or fear that people in their life are going to die after the death of a family member.Traumas
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or other stressful and traumatic experiences
If your daughter’s anxiety focuses on a specific issue, it may be easier to pinpoint the cause of her anxiety. For example, sometimes people develop intense anxiety around death or fear that people in their life are going to die after the death of a family member.Non-Supervision
A consistently critical or unavailable caregiver or adult in one’s life from an early age.
If your daughter’s anxiety focuses on a specific issue, it may be easier to pinpoint the cause of her anxiety. For example, sometimes people develop intense anxiety around death or fear that people in their life are going to die after the death of a family member.Models
Witnessing the behaviors and thoughts of adults or family members with anxiety from an early age
If your daughter’s anxiety focuses on a specific issue, it may be easier to pinpoint the cause of her anxiety. For example, sometimes people develop intense anxiety around death or fear that people in their life are going to die after the death of a family member.Professional care from a specialized alcohol detox facility is highly recommended as withdrawal can be extremely dangerous.
What Are Signs My Teen Is Suffering from Anxiety?
Not every teen will show every sign of anxiety. Your daughter’s anxiety may be concentrated on specific issues or even specific groups or situations. However, many teens will show noticeable signs of anxiety.
Some signs of anxiety include:
- Being afraid of making minor mistakes
- Not handling even constructive criticism well
- Worrying about things in the distant future
- Constantly seeking approval from others
- Avoiding interactions with strangers
- Having few friends
- Crying often
- Worrying that cannot be soothed or calmed with explanation
- Low self-esteem
- A sudden change in school performance
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What Are Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens?
Everyone experiences mental health issues differently. Even if you or someone you know has suffered from an anxiety disorder, your child may experience anxiety differently.
Some common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Excessive worry
- Nervousness or irritability
- Feeling restless or unable to sit still
- Fatigue or constant tiredness
- A constant sense of danger, panic, or impending doom
- Trembling
- Sweating
- Hyperventilating (rapid breathing)
- Feeling weak or tired
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems
- Headaches or other unexplained aches and pains
- Muscle tension
- Difficulty concentrating or feeling like their mind is going blank
- Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting quality rest
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What Are the Different Types of Anxiety?
There are many different types of anxiety disorders that impact people in different ways. We will cover a few of them here.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD is one of the most common forms of anxiety. The severity of GAD also varies greatly from person to person. Some people may struggle a little and be able to overcome their anxiety, while others are totally overwhelmed by their fear. Someone suffering from GAD may have anxiety about a great number of different things, and their anxiety does not necessarily focus on any one particular subject or event. People with generalized anxiety often worry about routine things in their day-to-day life that other people might not even give a second thought to. Generalized anxiety can cause significant problems in the daily lives of those who are suffering from it and make it difficult to maintain routines or live without significant stress.
Panic Disorder
A panic disorder occurs when a person has repeated and unexpected panic attacks. These panic attacks may be triggered by seemingly minor or unnoticeable occurrences or things that would not bother most people. For some people, panic attacks can occur without any apparent cause. People who have panic attacks often fear when their next panic attack will be. They may try to avoid situations or places that they associate with panic attacks. This can cause serious issues when it comes to building a routine and handling daily tasks. It can also lead to the development of phobias surrounding the things they avoid.
Phobia-Based Anxiety
A phobia is an intense fear or strong dislike of a specific thing or situation. For example, someone might have a fear of flying, heights, or spiders. However, many people have phobias that impact their lives on a more regular basis. This could be a fear of being in public, a fear of driving a car, or even a strong dislike of daily tasks, like dishwashing. These types of phobias can be crippling and make it nearly impossible for someone to live a normal life without help and treatment. Sometimes a phobia is based on an ACE or other traumatic event that involves the object or situation the person has come to fear. Other times, phobias are not about something that a person has actually experienced but rather are about something that seems new or scary.
Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is a fear of social situations. Sometimes people have social anxiety when they are in a new group of people or meeting strangers for the first time. However, social anxiety is not just the usual first impression jitters. People suffering from social anxiety have a fear beyond what is called for by the situation. Sometimes people with social anxiety do not just fear meeting new people. They may have anxiety when talking to people no matter how long they have known them. People with social anxiety may mutter or avoid speaking altogether. Social anxiety often makes it a struggle for people to make and keep friends.
Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety is a fear of being separated from a person or multiple people that someone is attached to. For example, this could be a parent, close friend, or romantic partner. People with separation anxiety typically begin to get nervous when anticipating or experiencing separation from the person to whom they are attached. Sometimes a person with separation anxiety is simply afraid of being away from the person they want to be close to. However, it is very common for someone with separation anxiety to become afraid that something will happen to the person they are attached to that will bring them harm or stop the two of them from being reunited.
Professional care from a specialized alcohol detox facility is highly recommended as withdrawal can be extremely dangerous.
Does My Teen Need Medication for Anxiety?
Some teens do benefit from medication for their anxiety. Medication tends to be particularly helpful when anxiety is caused, at least in part, by an imbalance in neurotransmitters in the brain.
However, whether or not your daughter needs medication will be determined by a medical professional.
Some common medications used to treat anxiety disorders include:
- Benzodiazepines
- Beta-blockers
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Treatment for Anxiety at Roots Renewal Ranch
We know you’ve gotten this far into your research because you want to help your daughter. That’s what we want, too.
If your daughter has a severe anxiety disorder, it is important to approach the situation with care. She is likely already struggling with guilt over the way it impacts her life.
If you believe your daughter is suffering from an anxiety disorder, Roots Renewal Ranch may be a good fit for her. Our 90-day residential program is designed to give her the space and time away from the stress of daily life that she needs to recover and live her best life.
Here at Roots, your daughter will receive individual therapy sessions every week, plus daily group therapy sessions with other girls facing similar struggles, and additional journaling and personal assignments that are regularly assigned by our clinical staff.
We will use evidence-based therapy methods to treat your daughter’s anxiety as effectively as we can. These therapy methods include:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Somatic psychotherapy
Our daily structure is based on the guidelines outlined by Dan Seigal in his book “Healthy Mind Platter,” which is designed to improve productivity and healing.
Our clients spend about 2.5 hours in a classroom setting every day with the teachers who are on our staff because we know how important it is that your daughter stay on top of her education. We keep parents and home schools informed through weekly progress updates.
We offer many outdoor activities, including animal care, volleyball, camping, archery, and more to keep girls active, as well as spiritual opportunities, like non-denominational worship.
Alumni Reviews
Proud to be highly rated
Our daughter came home nearly two and a half months ago after completing 75 days at Roots Renewal Ranch. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Roots Renewal Ranch.
Megan B.
My daughter was there for 70 days and the staff treated her with great care. She bonded with her counselor and enjoyed the activities. She loved the horses and other animals on site as well. The family weekend was amazing! I highly recommend Roots!
Jay L.
This is a place of healing for both children and parents. The support system is beyond expectations. What Roots did for our family could never be repaid. We thought we had lost our child forever; however, Roots brought our little girl back to us. It’s a scary feeling for any parent, but Roots is a safe place, and you’ll see positive transformations in the long run.
Juan H
Roots is a wonderful place. The staff is amazing and they went above and beyond to help my granddaughter. They teach the girls self love and confidence. I would definitely recommend them for anyone who needs help for themselves or their loved ones.
Kathy H.
I always tell people, if it weren’t for roots, I probably would not be here today. I would not be the strong person I have become. Roots gave me a home when I felt I didn’t have a home. They taught me how to stand up for myself when I had been pushed down my entire life.
AJ W
Get Treatment for Your Loved One Today
Watching your daughter struggle with an anxiety disorder at such a young age can be really hard. But we want you to know that you and your daughter are not alone. Reach out to Roots Renewal Ranch today and help get your daughter the treatment she needs.
CALL NOW | (888) 399-0489For a FREE & confidential assessment
FAQ
How do you help a teenager with anxiety?
If you believe your teenager is suffering from an anxiety disorder, it is important that you approach the situation with care and understanding. Anxiety can make it difficult for your child to get through daily tasks. Listen to what your child has to say and how they feel about their anxiety. If your daughter is struggling, you must get her the treatment she needs to take control of her life.
What are the signs of anxiety in a teenager?
A few common signs of anxiety in a teenager include:
- Being afraid of making minor mistakes
- Not handling even constructive criticism well
- Worrying about things in the distant future
- Constantly seeking approval from others
- Avoiding interactions with strangers
- Having few friends
- Crying often
- Worrying that cannot be soothed or calmed with explanation
- Low self-esteem
- A sudden change in school performance
Is teenage anxiety normal?
It is normal for a teen to struggle with anxiety. Many teens struggle with anxiety. However, someone struggling with an anxiety disorder worries beyond what the situation calls for. A person with an anxiety disorder is often constantly in a state of worry about something, and once that thing is dealt with, they start to worry about something else. If your daughter has an anxiety disorder, she is not alone, but it is important that she receive treatment. Treatment can help your daughter find ways to cope with and overcome her anxiety.
What makes a teenager anxious?
The causes of anxiety disorders are different for everyone. They are often considered to be caused by a combination of genetic, brain, environmental, and societal factors.
A few common causes of anxiety disorders include:
- An imbalance of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain) such as norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine
- A genetic makeup that leaves a person prone to anxiety
- Increased blood flow to the amygdala, a part of the limbic system in the brain that controls fear or other parts of the brain
- Cultural practices or shifts that may cause psychological harm
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or other traumatic and stressful experiences
- An overly critical or withholding caregiver or adult in one’s life from an early age
- Witnessing adults or family members with anxiety from an early age