Teenage anxiety is a growing problem among today’s youth population. Students live in a demanding environment that includes an adolescent-scripted social assessment system which is highly stressful as they deal with social relations, issues in the family, and challenging perspectives on the future; all of these can lead to anxiety and stress blossoming in youth.

This article will consider the reasons behind the anxiety experienced by the youth, explain the factors that influence their stress, specifically, how society can help them, and finally reveal the impactful role of counselling in supporting teenagers to overcome anxiety.

Why Teenage Anxiety is Common

Teens go through a lot of transitioning, which can make them anxious. Here are some reasons.

· Body Changes

Many physical changes happen in teens’ bodies during puberty. Raging hormones are everywhere, and they can create anxiety, making them moody and stressed out at random. Yes, hormones are more than the sexual changes, but also brain changes that contribute to feelings of volatility, confusion, emptiness, and loneliness.

· School Pressure 

The school itself can cause stress for most teenagers. Grades, tests, and homework demands are one pressure, and simply not being a part of groups or having close friends could be an immense source of their concerns. This naturally results in young people feeling nervous.

·  Social Expectations 

Many teens just want to be liked by the people around them. Youth can exist in a state of confusion about whether they would find people that like them and make friends, or be judged, left out, or scrutinized which naturally turns into anxiety.

· Family Issues

Family problems such as conflict with parents, divorce, or separation, can add to the already immense stress burden of adolescents. For that reason, they often perceive themselves as being in the middle and sometimes feel they may upset their family members, especially when people think the child does not care. Teenagers process and show emotion differently, which is often misunderstood, also contributing to their stress and anxiety.

· Uncertain Future 

Teenagers are at an age where they contemplate their lives ahead. They might be scared or confused about where they want to go and their life after high school, finding a job or being successful, which can have a negative impact on them.

· Social Media 

The use of social media among teenagers can add to their stress levels. What is particularly disheartening is that social media often portrays people’s imagined perfection, which in turn increases anxiety and lessens self-esteem in a certain social group. This is a double-edged sword. Social media is also the platform where many teens communicate. Not having access can create stress of not fitting in and being like everyone else.

How Society Can Help in Combating Teenage Anxiety

Society can play a bigger part in acknowledging the emotional issues of teens. It is proven that the environment can greatly influence our attitude, and it’s true to a much greater degree with teens. We as a society can play our part, such as…

· Talk About Mental Health

We need to address mental health concerns, including anxiety. The essence of being a teen is talking with their friends or possibly seeking professional help if needed from someone who understands what it means to be a teen.

· Be Kind and Supportive

We as a society need to cultivate a kind and supportive attitude towards teenagers. Bullying and a hostile environment could be adding fuel to this fire. Therefore, it’s essential to design an accepting community. Understanding the pressures and volatility of the teen can bring compassion and understanding.

· Provide Access to Resources

Teenagers should be given access to sources like counsellors, support groups, and helplines where they can ask for help and support whenever they want, especially with supportive professionals who understand the life and experiences of being a teenager.

· Educate Teens About Coping Skills, and Educate Parents About Understanding

Not only does this help teenage anxiety, but it also teaches them ways to cope with their anxiety better. For example, deep breathing, mindfulness, and problem-solving skills can be useful. However, the most impactful coping skill is an understanding adult, especially the parent.

· Reduce Academic Pressure

In this regard, schools can be instrumental in relieving anxiety by giving students and teachers a chance for a healthy work-life balance, assisting those students facing hard times, and focusing more on personal growth and development instead of relying merely on grades and academic performance-based demands.

· Promote Positive Body Image

Society must encourage healthy self-esteem and self-acceptance which includes concepts about healthy body imaging. Through this, teenagers will feel good about their appearance, be confident in themselves, and feel comfortable in matters related to body image.

· Create Safe Spaces

Teenagers seek safe havens where they do not have to be somebody or something else just to avoid criticism or making fun of things that do not match their expectations. Schools, community centres, and online platforms can serve as these safe spaces for discussion.

· Encourage Healthy Relationships

Reducing anxiety in teenagers can be done by strengthening their bonds with relatives, close friends, and role models who portray themselves as secure and supportive.

The Role of Counselling in Overcoming Teenage Anxiety

Counselling plays an important role in helping teens overcome their anxiety. Counselling is a way for teens to have a confidential space to share what they are going through. Sometimes, the simple achievement of being accompanied through their struggles and without being condemned brings more than just a big relief; it can bring a sense of support in a sea of turmoil.

· Learn Coping Skills

Counsellors teach teenagers different ways of handling feelings of anxiety. They may include breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, or ways to fight their negative thoughts. However, the most impactful technique for reducing anxiety is helping teenagers to feel valued through a supportive listening ear, void of judgment, lectures, and suggestions.

· Understand Triggers

Counsellors assist teenagers in determining what causes their anxiety through listening without judgment or biases. Thus, they can work on those factors and slowly reduce their anxiety levels by replacing them with feelings of ability, or even understanding how their body (the anxiety) presents itself.. Through this awareness, they will be able to form strategies of how better to cope with anxiety situations.

· Build Confidence

A counselling program can help teens gain self-confidence and a sense of self-worth. As they learn to cope with their anxiety, they practice self-belief and start to believe in themselves more.

· Deal with Problems

Counsellors show teenagers ways of handling issues that are the underlying reasons for their anxiety. They can assist them in working out family problems, school subject questions, or relationship disagreements.

· Set Goals

Counsellors aim to help teenagers set personal targets. Students may report better grades, new friendships, or the ability to recognize their potential among the typical outcomes resulting from counselling sessions with a counsellor. Through the process, students learn what they want to achieve and how to get there. They also learn to accept their limitations build upon their strengths and feel more comfortable in themselves.

· Provide Support

Counsellors’ most important role is to provide teens with support, motivation, and encouragement throughout their journey. Realizing that you are not alone and that someone is there to listen and help, can sometimes give teenagers what they need to continue when things are not looking up.

Conclusion

All in all, youth suffer from this anxiety because of their study, social networking, and problems in their families, as well as avoiding knowing what the future is going to be. However, we can still assist in some ways.

Society should accept teenagers better and help them overcome their difficulties. We can, for instance, talk among ourselves about mental health, not be rude to one another, and make sure there is non-judgemental support when teens need help.

Anxiety follows many teenagers, especially in their high school years, and counselling is an option for help and support. Counselling becomes a listener in to guide teens in how to survive anxiety and grow in the sense that they feel confident and powerful.

We can only make a positive change in the lives of troubled teenagers if we work together and provide emotional support. Together, we can dismantle the negative self-image that creates anxiety in teenagers and buy them time to feel better about themselves and the future.

At Boomerang Counselling Centre, we have counsellors that know adolescents and can help combat teenage anxiety. The result is a teen that feels more confident and capable of facing life stressors. Book a free consultation here.