Teen Anxiety: Are you the concerned parent of a teenager complaining of brain fog and feelings of irrational fear? Your child might be struggling with anxiety. Anxiety can be a difficult condition for anyone of any age to handle, but the emotional stakes may feel higher when your teen is going through it. Fortunately, there are some strategies that you as a parent can take to equip your child with positive coping mechanisms. You can learn, for instance, how to teach positive self-talk and healthy ways to let off some steam. Take a look at the main mechanisms you may want to teach your child.
Medication Can Help But Consider Natural Remedies as Well
If your teen is struggling with bad anxiety or experiencing panic attacks on a regular basis, consulting your family doctor about possible medication options may be a necessity. However, there are also natural remedies for anxiety in teens that could be sufficient or at least provide a helpful supplement. Part of mental health and mood is maintaining a well-rounded diet, for instance, so making sure your teen starts eating nutrient-rich foods and giving them healthy herbal supplements could aid in lifting their mood.
Start Focusing on All-Around Health and Regular Self Care
Practicing good health habits and self-care can act as a powerful coping mechanism for someone struggling with anxiety. This is especially true since some serious cases of anxiety can lead to neglect of self-care, which may in turn cause more anxiety, developing into a vicious cycle. To avoid this problem, encouraging healthy practices like:
- Encouraging good work-life balance and taking a little bit of “me time” every day
- Sleeping at least eight to nine hours a night
- Expressing feelings in a healthy way, such as journaling, taking up art as a hobby or going for a workout
Beyond typical self-care, it’s also essential to foster good self-talk habits. Part of tackling anxiety is dealing with irrational fears, so try having open-ended conversations with your teen and encouraging them to work through why they’re feeling what they’re feeling. This talking-through process can help them see the reality of the situation, rather than giving in to overblown fears.
Also Read: 6 Ways to Stay Physically Active All Day
Maintain an Optimistic Outlook and Connect More With Nature
The key to overcoming irrational fears is maintaining a positive and optimistic outlook, so whatever activities allow your teen to keep a positive mindset can be helpful. One common strategy is to connect more with nature by going on hikes, camping trips or even just strolls through downtown parks. Taking the focus off of everyday stressors and instead of getting immersed in the beauty of the natural world can be incredibly soothing and may help your teen feel calmer and more peaceful.
Anxiety is a tough condition to deal with at any stage of life, but for a teen still going through important developmental phases, it can feel all the more emotionally weighty. As a parent, there are thankfully some strategies for coping that you can model and teach your teen. By incorporating these coping mechanisms into everyday life, your teen will be better prepared to keep calm, practice healthy self-talk and deal rationally with feelings of anxiety when they crop up.
Also Read: 7 easy ways to relax and de-stress after a long day at work
