Anxiety is rough on adults, but children have yet to learn healthy coping mechanisms. They may not understand the roller coaster of emotions from teen anxiety. Thankfully, you can help them through this season and alleviate some of their nervousness.

Tips for Helping with Your Child’s Teen Anxiety

The best way to help teen anxiety is to model a healthier lifestyle. If your child sees you choosing healthy coping mechanisms and seeking help when you need it, they will do the same. The teenage years are challenging for both parents and teens. Try to remain calm and open-minded, but be firm when necessary.

Seek the advice of a counselor if you feel that you are out of ideas. Counseling uses evidence-based methods to teach teens the strategies they need to manage anxiety for the rest of their lives.

The following are several tips to help your child manage teen anxiety.

Foster an inviting and open environment

A child must feel safe to express their thoughts and emotions. Foster an inviting and open environment in your home and with you. Let your teen know that you are willing to listen and guide them. Sometimes, they will say things that are tough to hear or that contradict your beliefs. Be willing to listen and seek guidance from God and others as needed.

Teens often turn to their friends when they think they can’t speak to a parent about issues. Unfortunately, their friends are in the same boat and lack the wisdom and experience needed. Maintain a loving and safe presence.

Acknowledge their feelings

Acknowledge and validate your child’s feelings when they open up to you. Actively listen and ask questions. Try to avoid distractions during your conversation and consider keeping your phone out of sight, either in your pocket or out of the room. Give your child your whole-hearted attention.

Help them identify negative thinking. For example, an all-or-nothing mindset may sound like, “They don’t want me to go with them.” You can shift the perspective by asking, “Did they say that? What makes you believe that?” You may need a counselor’s perspective to help you determine if your child’s thoughts have fallen into all-or-nothing, mind-reading, or another negative form of thinking.

Help them adjust to routines to lower stress

Sometimes teen anxiety is due to an overwhelming schedule, plus life events. Perhaps your teen is involved in extracurricular activities and a full schedule of classes, and then they experience the death of a grandparent. This would be too much for many adults, let alone a child who lacks the proper coping mechanisms.

Help your child by adjusting routines and schedules as needed. You might want them to play in every sport, but in this season, your child may need to take a step back and work on their mental health. Be flexible and confident that you are doing what is best for your child.

Invite them to participate in healthy coping behaviors

Teach your child how to cope with stress by encouraging them to adopt healthy behaviors alongside you. Ask them to join you as you go for a walk, run, ride a bicycle, or lift weights. Teach them the basics of deep breathing to help calm their nerves when they feel overwhelmed.

Make it fun. Spend this time getting to know your child. The more activities you do together like this, the more open they will be to confiding in you about their worries.

Encourage better sleep routines and healthier food

Teens often stay up late, chatting with friends, texting, and playing video games. However, better sleep and healthier food options can help improve their mental health. Sleep deprivation and ultra-processed foods only worsen anxiety. Social media and too much time on devices have been shown to disrupt sleep and exacerbate anxiety and depression symptoms.

Help your child create a nighttime routine to wind down for bed. Choose an appropriate bedtime together and work backward to help them unwind and relax before turning off the light. Keep healthy food options in the house and teach your teen how to make quick and easy snacks and light meals.

Choose a virtual counseling option for teen anxiety

Virtual sessions are now available to help manage teen anxiety. Depending on your teen’s age, you can arrange to attend or be nearby in another area while your child receives therapy at home. This eliminates the need for travel or disrupting their school day. Of course, in-person sessions are also available at Encinitas Christian Counseling in California.

Give us a call today at Encinitas Christian Counseling in California to get started with managing teen anxiety.

Photo:
“Weeds Along the Boardwalk”, Courtesy of Janek Valdsalu, Unsplash.com, CC0 License

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