My Teen Won’t Talk to Me! Key Signs of Anxiety in Your Teenager
It’s not an uncommon stereotype for teens and parents to have some discord. It’s also not necessarily abnormal for your teen to be a bit more “closed off” than you’re used to. There are several possible reasons why teenagers don’t want to talk to their parents about everything.
But, in the end, you know your teen better than anyone.
There’s a difference between the classic “teen drama” and something more serious going on. If your teen won’t talk to you and you’re worried they might be struggling, it’s important to get to the bottom of it. They could be dealing with anxiety, which can be really difficult, especially if you’re trying to manage it on your own.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the common signs of anxiety in teenagers. Recognizing them in your own teen will make it easier for you to talk to them about it and get them the help they need to work through their fears.
The Physical Signs
Though anxiety is a mental health condition, it can manifest itself through many different physical symptoms. These are often the same in teens as adults. Some of the most common physical signs include:
Fatigue
Muscle tension
Sleep issues
Complaints about headaches
Stomach problems
Your teen’s physical behaviors might also start to change. Things that are habitual might suddenly become a “big deal”. That could include their refusal to eat in the school cafeteria, or not wanting to use bathrooms away from home.
Recognizing a Change in Behaviors
Speaking of behavioral signs, it’s crucial that you don’t brush them off as normal if you know they’re something completely off-base for your teen. Yes, teenagers like to test the waters and try new things. But, sudden behavioral changes are different.
If they’re a straight-A student and stop participating in class, that’s a problem. If they avoid their peers or refuse to spend time with them, that’s a problem.
Additionally, if you notice that they don’t want to be away from home, they become emotional or even angry when separated from loved ones, or they start to have emotional outbursts, it’s safe to say there’s something deeper going on.
Gauging Their Emotions
The emotional signs in your teenager might be the last thing you notice. Or, you might mistake them for normal teenage behaviors or moods. But, combined with the physical and behavioral signs, emotional symptoms of anxiety can be more apparent.
Some of the most common emotional signs of anxiety in teens include frequent crying, pressing fears or phobias, and obsessive thoughts or worries about bad things happening.
As you might expect, it’s not easy for a teenager to open up about those things with their parents. They might understand that the fears they have are irrational. Or, they might be too afraid to even talk about them.
That’s why it’s so important to have a grasp on as many key signs of anxiety as possible. Don’t assume that your teen will open up about their fears. But, don’t force them to talk about their thoughts and feelings, either.
One of the best things you can do is make sure your teen knows they aren’t alone. They need to feel supported and safe. When they do, they might be more willing to talk, answer your questions, and open up about how they’re really feeling. You can use that as an opening to get them the help they might really need from a therapist or counselor.
Being a teenager isn’t easy. There are plenty of reasons why teens can struggle with anxiety just as easily as adults. By recognizing some of these signs of anxiety in your teenager, you can help them before the condition becomes worse. Read more about how teen counseling with an experienced therapist might support you, please feel free to contact me soon.
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