How to support young people with anxiety

 

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health disorders in adolescents, with one in twelve young people reporting that they feel anxious. Young people may not always understand anxiety, or the effect it has on their lives and mental health, so parents need to understand the importance of listening and how to recognise anxiety. This will mean they can help young people to access the right help and support at the right time.

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is an emotion characterised by feelings of tension with physical responses, which can feel unpleasant and even frightening. These physical responses include:

  • Feelings of panic, fear and dread

  • A rapid heartbeat

  • Feeling sick

  • Feeling restless and tense

Anxiety is a normal response to some situations, but it becomes problematic when it starts to impact upon a young person’s life, affecting how they feel and what they can do.

Why do young people become anxious?

There are many reasons why young people become anxious – some common triggers include social media, poor sleep patterns, loneliness, and isolation. Anxiety can also emerge as a reaction to environmental stressors such as trauma, abuse, the death of family member or friend, bullying, and pressure to succeed.

What are the signs of anxiety?

Young people may not always know why, or even when, they are feeling anxious, which means they may not reach out for help. So, understanding what anxiety looks like makes it easier to spot when your child may need more support.

Here are some common signs of anxiety:

  • Finding it hard to concentrate

  • Frequent night waking and/or nightmares

  • Avoiding social situations

  • Changes in eating habits

  • Being angry or irritable

  • Being out of control during outbursts

  • Appearing to worry a lot

  • Having negative thoughts

  • Showing a general lack of interest

How to help a young person with anxiety

The most important thing to do is talk to your child about their anxieties and worries, and listen to what they have to say. Try to set aside time each day for them to talk to you, and make them a priority. This will let them know that you are there for them and want to help. If you have older children, they may benefit from talking about what anxiety is and learning to recognise when they are becoming anxious. You could also try distracting them with an activity that they enjoy.

Anxiety can be a frightening experience, but the right support can help your child to regain control.

Who can I contact for help with anxiety?

If your child’s anxiety becomes severe and persistent, speak to your GP. They can refer your child to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) or a counsellor. You could also reach out directly to a counselling service that specialises in supporting young people.

Open Door is a leading provider of person-centered youth counselling, offering face-to-face sessions in Birmingham, and online sessions for young people across the country. If you need more support with anxiety and depression, contact us on 0121 454 1116 or find out more about our counselling services for children and young people.


This video was commissioned by our partners at Lionheart for Children’s Mental Health Week. We are sharing it here in the hope that it will help those who are seeking to support young people with anxiety.

Carmel Mullan-Hartley is Chief Executive of Open Door Counselling

 
Resources, VideoCarmel Mullan-Hartley