What Causes Teenage Anxiety? 

The period of adolescence is a transformative experience marked by physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. Teenagers often find themselves on a journey of self discovery, attempting to find themselves while navigating their rapidly evolving societal pressures. This can be tough for everyone involved.

Parenting, while rewarding, can also be a stressful and transformative experience! And when you notice signs of anxiety in your teenager, it can be perplexing and stressful. “What causes teenage anxiety?” is a question that many parents may be asking themselves. 

This article will explore the intricate web of factors that may be contributing to your teenager’s emotional struggles.

What we’ll cover in this post: 

1. Biological Changes
2. Social Pressures
3. Academic Pressures
4. Technology and Social Media
5. What Can You Do?

Biological Changes

Did you know that the brain’s prefrontal cortex is not developed until around age 25? The prefrontal cortex plays a huge role in decision-making and emotional regulation. This can lead to a neurological gap between heightened emotions and being able to manage them effectively. The back-and-forth, ping-ponging of trying to understand their feelings and actions could be causing them some anxiety. 

One of the big factors that can contribute to teenage anxiety is the major biological changes. As they develop hormones, they will begin to learn how to deal with their new emotions. This can be tricky! Think back to when you were a teenager. Even if you might not remember, there’s a good chance your emotions were not as steady as they are now.

Understanding that these changes are normal can help parents better be able to navigate this period in their teen’s life.

New hormones also mean new physical changes. Your teen may be feeling anxiety due to the changes in their physical appearance. Many adolescents go through an “awkward phase” as their bodies evolve. 

Social Pressures

Again, try to think back to when you were a teenager. Maybe you just started going to the high school campus, and all you wanted was to fit in with the “cool kids”. 

Teenagers grapple with any social pressures, from trying to find their “place”, to meeting academic expectations. Your teen may be exploring different activities, sports, and subjects at school. The desire to be accepted, the desire to please their parents and teachers, and the fear of rejection or failure can all contribute to a young person’s anxiety.

As a parent, being attuned to your teenager’s social dynamics and offering guidance on healthy relationship-building can support their emotional well-being. Finding your solutions through teen therapy is also ideal!

Academic Pressures

Is your teen constantly stressing over their performance at school? What about stressing over their academic future? 

The desire to succeed socially mixed with the desire to succeed academically can overwhelm some people. Maybe your teen has a test looming, and it’s completely consuming them. Maybe they don’t know what they want to major in or which college to attend. Perhaps some of their  friends seem to have their futures perfectly planned out, and they feel like the odd one out. 

As a parent, it’s crucial to strike a balance between encouraging achievement and fostering a supportive environment- where mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth. 

Technology and Social Media

This is a huge factor! This rise of technology and social media has presented a unique set of challenges, especially for teens and young adults. Cyberbullying isn’t the only aspect of online life that parents need to be aware of. We are still learning just how much this new digital age can negatively impact teens. 

While social media has its perks, it also comes with many negatives. The constant connectivity can lead to a sense of scrutiny and pressure. Social media can also lead to extreme comparison challenges! The fear of missing out (FOMO) also looms over the heads of many people who are only glimpsing the super cool highlights of someone’s life. 

When your teen is able to see everything that a person is doing and all the “cool” stuff they have, they may feel like they aren’t enough. It’s important to have conversations about social media with your teen. Help them understand that places like instagram are typically where people only show the good stuff – or the fake stuff. Everyone has their challenges, and instagram rarely shows the full picture.

Additionally, the unattainable (often photoshopped) beauty standards of instagram can wreak havoc on our youth. The pressure to look a certain way can absolutely be a breeding ground for anxiety in teens. (Read more on how to boost your teen’s self-esteem here.)

Setting healthy boundaries around social media, encouraging face to face interaction, and having open and honest communication with your teen can help mitigate these issues. 

What Can You Do? 

Being a parent is hard, and being a parent to a teenager comes with its own unique challenges. If you think your teen is struggling with anxiety, trust your gut.

Be open with your teen about some of the issues talked about in this article. Talk to them about what anxiety is! Ask them if they are struggling or feel anxious. If you feel like it might help, ask them if they are open to therapy.

Recap of What Causes Teenage Anxiety

Why does your teenager have anxiety? Honestly, it could be a plethora of things. The combination of biological and physiological changes, societal pressures, and social media are just a few troubling aspects. 

It’s important for both you and your teen to know that having anxiety is not uncommon! Approximately 30% of teenagers in the US reported having mental health struggles in 2021.

Therapy is an amazing resource for your teen with anxiety. Therapy can help them learn healthy coping skills, understand their emotions a little better, and have a safe space to talk about their struggles.

Contact us today to get started.