Stress & Anxiety

For adolescents, stress and anxiety often come hand-in-hand. They have many similar characteristics, but also have distinct differences. One can have both, or stress but not anxiety, or vice versa. The pressures of school, social situations, and growing up can create turmoil and can make day-to-day life feel overwhelming.

Stress is a feeling of tension. Stress can feel frustrating, nervous, angry, and exhausting. These feelings, and many others associated with stress, all fall under the category of distress. Distress is a blanket (general) term for emotions that feel uncomfortable or upsetting. Stress is provoked by stressors, such as pressure from school, family, or social issues.

Anxiety can look and feel much like stress, but it is often more ambiguous and complex. There are many varieties of anxiety, but in general, anxiety can feel like fear and worry. Feelings of anxiety can be caused by stressful situations, such as frequent and overwhelming worry about upcoming tests or projects at school. Anxiety can also occur when one experiences a particularly upsetting event or situation.

Stress can be provoked by occasional or daily situations that require a great amount of thought or pressure. In general, when one feels that a lot is expected of them, it is common to feel stressed. Stress can arise in all aspects of life. It is likely that you have personal experience with stress, which can be helpful to bring up in conversations and connect with your student.

Common factors of adolescent stress include school and social pressures. School can be increasingly demanding as the pressure to do well on tests and projects gets more intense as the years go on. Many students find themselves feeling stressed about school, starting in middle or high school. All students will feel this pressure at some point, but some may more than others.

Social stress is also common among adolescents. As students get older, relationships with peers become more complex and can be difficult to know how to navigate. There is a lot to be learned and practiced during the adolescent years as social cues develop and bodies change. It is very natural to feel some degree of stress about these issues, even as adults.

It is important to note that positive stress plays a large role in what often feels like negative stress. Stress is a natural and necessary part of life, although it often comes with negative connotations. The stress that students feel at school and during social events might feel negative, but its purpose is to help them grow and improve their minds and bodies. Challenges like these that induce stress are important to your student's mental and emotional growth.

Anxiety can be caused by unwelcome situations that provoke fear or worry. Much like stress, anxiety seeps into many parts of students' lives, just as it does for adults. Your student might start to avoid particular situations that feel unpleasant or upset them. They might also seem unusually on edge, tired, or nervous. These are some initial signs that your student might be struggling with anxiety.

School can be a major source of anxiety for adolescents. As they grow up, expectations are constantly changing. Reasons for school-induced anxiety are similar to the reasons listed above for stress. One difference may be that your student finds themselves constantly dwelling on or avoiding parts of school (certain classes or assignments), or procrastinating on work because the threat of underachieving or disappointment is too much. While stress is often relieved when the source goes away, anxiety is more persistent and can be an issue even after a particular threat or event has passed.

Social pressure is another major source of anxiety for adolescents. You might notice that your student is avoiding certain social situations or is consumed with fears about social events. Social expectations and bodies are changing greatly during this time, which can fuel worries. The fear of uncomfortable situations and rejection are especially daunting during this time, and your student may be inclined to isolate themselves.

New family dynamics can also cause anxiety, such as marriages and divorces, new or loss of family members, and moving. All of these events can make adolescents feel that they have little control over things in their life. They might close up or begin to fear change. It can be hard to remember that not all change feels bad, but it is natural for adolescents to develop anxieties about change and control.

Stress and anxiety are paired with a variety of emotional and cognitive symptoms. You might notice that your student is generally upset or not feeling or behaving like themselves. These symptoms may affect their social interactions and their performance in school. Here are some emotional signs that they may be dealing with stress or anxiety.

Nervous or tense
Irritable or frustrated
Exhausted or overwhelmed

They will also likely experience some cognitive, or mental, symptoms. These in particular may also affect their abilities in school.

Worrying or racing thoughts
Forgetfulness or disorganization
Lack of focus or judgment
Inability to concentrate

Although it is not as widely acknowledged, stress and anxiety often come paired with physical symptoms, as well. These effects are just as serious and important as the ones listed above.

Restlessness or feeling on-edge
Fatigue and exhaustion
Difficulty concentrating
Tight or stiff muscles
Unregulated sleep patterns, such as difficulty falling or staying asleep
Loss of appetite

Although your student may experience many of these symptoms, finding help with each of these categories doesn't have to be difficult. Stress and anxiety can require some mindfulness to ease and overcome them. If you can help and encourage your student learn new and healthy patterns, they will be able to develop greater well-being and will be prepared to handle more difficult situations in their life.

There are many different forms of anxiety that feel slightly different and are provoked by different events or situations. Here are some brief descriptions of the most common forms of anxiety. Anxiety is a very complex disorder and can be hard to pinpoint at times, but there are similarities between each of these diagnoses.

Generalized Anxiety is the most broad type of anxiety. You might find that many of your student's worries and symptoms fall under generalized anxiety. This is fueled by many of the situations listed above that provoke fear and avoidance.
Social Anxiety Disorder is when a person’s anxiety is centered around social situations. This often causes someone to avoid uncomfortable situations out of fear of being rejected, embarrassed, or humiliated. This might include great fears of meeting new people or public speaking.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). A particularly disturbing event might cause someone to have obsessive thoughts that are incredibly difficult to not think about.
Panic Disorder is when a person has panic attacks, which are provoked by intense fear. Symptoms include uncontrollable and severe feelings of anxiety combined with physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, pain, and dizziness.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that can develop after an incredibly disturbing or traumatic event, particularly where physical harm was threatened or involved. PTSD can be easily trigged by situations or things that remind a person of what they fear. Symptoms of PTSD can include nightmares, flashbacks, and the inability to relax. Common developments of PTSD include accidents, weather disasters, physical assault, and war.
Phobias are excessive and persistent fears and aversions to particular objects or situations. Someone may go to great lengths to avoid the particular trigger. Common phobias include fear of heights, needles, and spiders.

Starting with yourself, your student's doctor, and your school, your student has a great number of resources available for managing their stress and anxiety. There are different routes that both of you can take for alleviating emotional, cognitive, and physical symptoms.

Talk to a doctor. Your student's physician may be a good place to start if you are noticing signs of distress. They will have helpful information about the causes and effects of stress and anxiety and will have ideas about how to manage their symptoms, from a health point of view. They may also suggest medication, depending on your student's symptoms and their severity.
Talk to a counselor or therapist. As with nearly all emotions you will experience in life, it always helps to tell and talk to someone else. Finding a counselor or therapist who your student connects to can seriously improve their well-being and how they manage your stress and anxiety, both now and into the future. They can also help them pinpoint what exactly is causing them distress.
Think about your student's needs. Even if you don’t know exactly what is causing their stress or anxiety, ask them what brings them joy and makes them feel at ease. Encourage them to participate (and join them, if possible) in activities that calm them and take their focus away from what is causing their troubles. Healthy distractions are beneficial and necessary when it comes to alleviating stress. These habits are important to form early on in life. Remind them that they shouldn't be doing things that they don't enjoy or spending time with people that they don't want to.

Stress and anxiety are closely linked to your student's overall well-being. Generally, if they are not taking care of their body mind’s needs, they may be more prone to the stressors in their life. Although there is no single “cure” for feeling total relief from stress or anxiety, there are quite a few things you can remind them about.

Remind your student that stress and anxiety are common. Stress is a natural part of everyone’s lives, and the vast majority of people do or will experience some type of anxiety. Share your stresses and anxieties, both from your own adolescence and your present concerns. This normalizes what your student is feeling and will make them feel more connected to you. The more you share and show that you care, the more they'll come to you in the future.
Encourage them to acknowledge their discomfort and fears. Much of the stress and worries they have concerning school, friends, and family affect your their peers, as well. Remind them that it always helps to talk about it with people who care, and it can be relieving to know that you are not alone in your struggles.
Suggest routines of mindfulness. Yoga and meditation are two ways to help your mind and body connect and foster peace in your life. Encourage your student to set aside time for themselves. Healthy distractions from the bustle of school are important for their mental health, as well as their social and educational success.
Encourage physical activities. Sports, biking, running, and walking are all great physical outlets for stress. Physical activity helps to alleviate mental fogginess and is another healthy distraction from stress. Many of these activities can be joined at school and done with friends. You can also take part in many of these activities with your student.
Encourage social and creative outlets. These are both important to one's overall well-being and happiness. Setting aside time for art, reading, writing, and music is important and can easily be neglected. These are all essential parts of life, both in adolescence and adulthood, and are important habits to form early on. Dedicating time for social events that make your student feel fulfilled and connected to their peers and family is also very important.

There is an endless number of people who silently struggle with stress and anxiety, as well as other mental health conditions, every day. There are many resources available for both you and your student. If you need help connecting with your student about mental health, please reach out to school support staff and fellow parents and view the resources below.

Hotlines — Call & Text Support
If you or someone you know is at risk of harming themselves or others, please call 911 and notify the operator that you are having a psychaitric emergency. Ask for an officer trained in crisis intervention or psychiatric emergencies.

If you are having a non-emergency crisis, there are many resources for you to receive immediate relief by calling or texting with a trained crisis operator. Here is a list of some important numbers and resources to know about in case you find yourself or someone you know needing anonymous support.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433) or 1-800-442-HOPE (4673) or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text "TALK" to 741741
If you are in crisis and need to speak with someone now, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline. They can help with many issues beyond suicide, including anxiety and drug help. They are toll-free, 24-hour, confidential hotlines which connect you to a nearby trained counselor.

NAMI Hotline: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or text “NAMI” to 741741
NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

School Resources
There are many educators at your student's school who are willing to talk and help. Here are some staff members who might be good resources for you and your student.

Websites — Resources & Information
There are many resources about stress and anxiety on the internet. Below are some dependable links that you can browse for information and support.

HEARD Alliance
The HEARD Alliance (Health Care Alliance for Response to Adolescent Depression) provides resources for parents for treating anxiety and mental health related conditions.

Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute wants to help you make good decisions for your kids and navigate the challenges of parenting. They explore concerns and challenges most from parents have and provide expert guidance on how to respond in the most effective way. They offer resources for parents that can help you get the best care for that child and the best outcome for your family.

The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.

Teen Mental Health
TMH has a plethora of links and resources for parents and adults on how to help and care for children and loved ones with mental health issues.

Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM)
SAHM has a large online research aimed specifically at parents of adolescents and young adults, including support groups, peer networks, helplines, treatment locators, and advocacy opportunities.

Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) is an international nonprofit organization dedicated mental health. They have information and statistics about childhood mental health disorders and how to navigate them.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services has a great amount of information about how parents and other adults can support adolescent mental health issues.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The CDC has a guide for parents about childhood anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses.

There are many different statistics on stress and anxiety from a variety of reports and resources. Here are some statistics from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the Child Mind Institute, both verified and dependable sources.

Anxiety disorders affect 25.1% of children between 13 and 18 years old.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders of childhood and adolescence. Different kinds of anxiety affect young people at different times in development. Phobias and separation anxiety affect primarily young children; social anxiety develops later, as peer relationships become more important.
Nearly one in three adolescents (31.9%) will meet criteria for an anxiety disorder by the age of 18.
- Phobias: 19.3%
- Social Anxiety Disorder: 9.1%
- Separation Anxiety: 7.6%
- PTSD: 5.0 %
- Panic Disorder: 2.3%
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder: 2.2%

Please keep in mind that stress and anxiety are common among adolsecents and that there are many ways for you to help and support your student. If you have any non-emergency questions or concerns that you can't find answers for, please do reach out to our support staff and resources that are listed above. We are always ready and willing to help and talk.