Healthy Youth Development
Taming the Beast Within: Managing Teenage Anxiety
If it has ever been easy being a teenager, few adults can remember when. In this era of “life by device” and constant social connections, layered on top of ever-present pressures for success, the skills necessary for managing anxiety are more important than ever.
Anxiety can be…
- A normal experience in life that, when managed effectively enhances motivation and vigilance
- Common in many life experiences, especially those that involved significant change and conflict
- Intense, physical energy wrapped in obsessive worry, racing thoughts, impulsivity and indecision
- Misunderstood as anger, agitation, irritability and impatience
- Characterized by increased sweating, heart rate, blood pressure, fast shallow breathing, rapid speech, sleep disturbance and appetite fluctuation
- Preparing for the flight, the fight and sometimes the freeze
- Disorienting and disruptive-a block to learning and healthy decision making
- A significant risk factor in depression, substance abuse (self-medication), eating disorders and other health challenges
Managing Anxiety: Essential skills for Building Resilience
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- Is body focused first, then mentally focused- calm first, the talk
- Uses the body’s built-in tools, e.g. intentional breathing, to “tell” the brain to calm and discus on body sensation (mindfulness)
- Happens best in a loving relationship with others, e.g. opening up and being heard or being of service to others
- Is enhanced by safely held, touched or rocked
- Can include physical activity, e.g. dance, yoga, exercise to counter stress hormones and better regulate bodily responses
- Can mix intentional breathing with guided-imagery-memories from a fun trip or serene place (real or imagined)
- Respond vs. React to setbacks- collaborative problem solving in a calm state of mind resolves issues today and builds skills and confidence