7 Common Signs of Teenage Anxiety

Nov 19

Ever wonder what anxiety may look like? Feel like? Sound like?

Here are the 7 common signs of teenage anxiety:

Low concentration
High irritability
Loss of appetite
Unexplained outbursts
Increased heartbeat
Excessive fatigue
Difficulty falling and/or staying asleep

All teens experience some degree of anxiety, especially when dealing with stress. Although there are many other signs of anxiety, I’ve found these one’s to be the most common ones.

What may cause day to day anxiety?

Final exams
Important athletic games
Presenting in the classroom
Going out on a date
Intrusive thoughts
Social gatherings

The feelings that a teen experiences is how the brain responds to anxious feelings, which is natural.

However, the key is to teach them how to manage their emotional and physical reaction to triggers so that when it surfaces, they have the right tools to overcome it.

Here’s my story:

In middle and high school, I had no idea what anxiety was. I didn’t know that what I was experiencing were feelings of anxiety.

I was unclear, confused, overwhelmed, and scared.

I didn’t know how to overcome it because I wasn’t able to identify it. I didn’t have the right tools to help me manage and calm my anxieties in a healthy way.

I was stuck in victim-mode and felt like I was just digging myself a bigger hole.

But 7 years ago, I managed to find a way to replace those feelings with empowerment, liberation, and freedom.

... And it was all due to this game-changing strategy that I tried!

Here’s what happened. After realizing how unhelpful and draining my coping mechanisms were, I decided something needed to change.

I couldn’t keep feeling the way I did and do nothing about it. That would just keep me in the negative cycle that I trapped myself in.

That’s when I started to open up and have some deep conversations with the people I loved and trusted the most. I thought to myself…

What do I need to do to reframe my way of thinking?

What is making me anxious?

What am I worried will happen?

What steps can I take to overcome these feelings?

Most importantly...

How can I help others do the same?

I quickly started mapping out the process of what it would look like to help others in this way.

I’ll tell you this…

I never felt as excited about anything in my life before – and that says something magical.

That excitement that I felt kickstarted an amazing transformational journey not only in my life, but also in the lives of others.

I can help you get there – you just have to be ready.

Why did I share this story?

Because I want YOU to know…

You are not alone.
Day to day anxiety is normal. It is our bodies way of responding to stress.
That you can overcome how you feel, as long as you have the right tools.
What anxiety may look, sound and feel like. Once you are able to identify it, you’ve taken the first step to overcome it.
To be kind to yourself. Remember that you are not your anxiety.