Could My Teenager Be Suffering From Anxiety?

According to studies compiled by the CDC, Teenage Anxiety is on the rise across the nation. Although it is completely normal for all teens to experience increased levels of anxiety at times, there are warning signs to watch for to make sure your child’s anxiety levels are not getting the better of them and to make sure that the anxiety is not associated with other conditions such Depression or ADHD. The providers at The Pediatric Specialists Medical Group have been serving the community of Trinity, FL for 25 years and are experienced in anxiety evaluations and treatment for children and teens, as well as young adults to age 24.

The answer to the question “could my teen be suffering from anxiety?” is yes, they very well could be dealing with symptoms from anxiety. This may not be the answer you want to hear about your once care-free child but knowing that it is a real possibility gives you the information to address and solve the problem. Remember occasional anxiety is normal, but if the anxiety interferes with your teen's daily routine or makes them chronically unhappy, then it is outside the realm of normal and should be addressed.

What Are Symptoms of Anxiety in Teens?

  • Withdrawing from normal activities and interactions (avoidance behavior)
  • Deterioration in school performance
  • Headaches
  • Abdominal pain/Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Trouble Sleeping

What May Be Some Anxiety Triggers For Teens?

  • Pressure at school for academic performance or social acceptance.
  • Bullying (at school or within the family).
  • Marital stress of parents.
  • Economic instability.
  • Medical conditions that affect the body or brain chemistry.

If you think your child may be suffering from an anxiety disorder, there are many things you can do to help. Start with a long open and non-judgmental discussion with your child to discover some of the things that may be contributing to the anxiety in their life and help to develop some solutions together that may help to reduce undue stress.

Anxiety treatment for children is approached with a mindset of determining areas of your child’s life that are causing undue stress and helping them face these challenges incrementally (baby steps) which will promote a sense of confidence in your child that they can get through these hurdles and deal effectively with their anxiety. If talk therapy alone is not successful, current medications used in children for anxiety are usually very effective to help children for a limited time until they feel confident to deal with their anxiety when they are off of their medication. Lastly, mindfulness practices such as breathing exercises and mediation have been shown to help patients with anxiety and we are always excited when our patients are willing to try these techniques which we provide links for on our website.

The Pediatric Specialists Medical Group is here for your child from birth to adulthood. If you feel your child may need assessments and medical attention for anxiety, do not hesitate to call. We are experienced with the range of teen medical conditions, and we can address the causes, identify any other issues and help them find their way back to peace. The office consists of Dr. Douglass Hasell, Dr. Thuy Pham, Dr. Sheridan Hernandez, Chris Pope, ARND, and Amanda Tortorice, ARNP. We serve the community with care, call today at (727) 375-5437.

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Pediatric Urgent care available after hours

Monday:

8:00 am-5:30 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:30 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

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