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How Anxiety Manifests in Teen Boys

Anxiety is a common emotion, but how teens deal with it can be different. Most of the time, anxiety sets in as a warning when a risky situation arises. However, anxiety can worsen and take over your thoughts so much that it is hard to manage. This situation is prevalent in teens as their young minds and bodies are still learning how to deal with all kinds of emotions. These emotions stem from peer pressure, traumatic loss, and even injuries. Understanding the signs of anxiety in teens is the key to controlling it. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we can help your teen manage their anxiety and develop a plan for lifelong recovery. Call us at 662.373.2828 for more information about our anxiety treatment program.

What Is Anxiety?

Anxiety in teens tends to result from the many pressures they are dealing with and the expectations they feel they have to live up to daily. Today's teens face more pressure to succeed than any other generation. Different generations may have dealt with pressures like a poor economy, unemployment, and debt as adults. Never before has the pressure been more significant on young adults to deal with these factors as they wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to their future. Teenagers are expected to have a resume when they apply for their first high school job. Not to mention having the perfect balance of extracurricular activities and a rigorous academic workload. Additionally, schedules are overloaded, and kids have little time to be kids. Downtime is spent online with social media, where bullying and trauma are rampant among teens. Anxiety can come in many forms, including:
  • Social anxiety, meaning that your teen confines themselves at home to avoid socializing
  • Separation anxiety, which means that a teen shows signs of distress being away from home or loved ones
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often occurs in teens struggling to deal with their physical and emotional response to a stressful or dangerous situation
  • Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) leads to your teen excessively worrying and enduring anxiety attacks regularly
  • Phobias, which mean that your teen struggles with irrational fears
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), meaning your teen has compulsions that cause severe stress
Anxiety doesn't mean that your teen is weak or making a grab for attention. However, it does indicate that they need treatment at an adolescent treatment center.

Signs of Anxiety in Adolescent Males

Facing life's pressures and struggling with fear of not living up to expectations is how many teens develop anxiety. Their anxiety may manifest through psychological symptoms, physical symptoms, poor academic performance, and substance abuse. Anxiety symptoms can differ and may include everything from preoccupation and demonstrated stress to emotional shutdown and defensiveness. The first step is to realize when there is a problem that needs treatment. Anxiety in teen boys and young adults tend to differ, especially if you are a friend or a family member trying to offer help. Some of the most obvious signs of anxiety to watch for include:
  • Feeling restless and nervous a lot of the time
  • Trouble sleeping or falling asleep
  • Expressing a feeling of panic or doom
  • Having the urge to avoid things that make you anxious
  • Physical problems such as sweating, trembling, or rapid breathing
  • Feeling tired and weak
  • Unable to control worrying
If you've witnessed several of these symptoms in your teen, it may be time to seek treatment from an adolescent mental health treatment center.

Anxiety Disorders in Teen Boys

If you have witnessed these anxiety symptoms in your teen son, he may suffer from an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., with 40 million Americans affected. Anxiety disorders don't discriminate and can affect anyone, including your teen son. Various types of anxiety disorders can cause distress for your teen. The different types of anxiety disorders include: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) – GAD is characterized by a person feeling anxious all the time, even when there isn't anything to be anxious about. A teen with GAD will worry excessively about school, their future, and their friendships. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) – OCD is an anxiety disorder that is characterized by a person having intrusive, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) that cause them to perform repetitive behaviors (compulsions). Panic disorder – Panic disorder is indicated by a person experiencing unexpected and repeated panic attacks. A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort that peaks within minutes. Social anxiety disorder (SAD) – SAD is characterized by a person feeling excessively anxious and self-conscious in social situations. A teen with SAD may avoid going to school, attending parties, or talking to people they don't know. Specific phobias – A phobia is an irrational fear of a particular object or situation, such as heights, animals, or flying. A teen with a specific phobia will go to great lengths to avoid the object or situation that causes them anxiety. If your teen is suffering from an anxiety disorder, it's essential to seek professional help from an adolescent treatment center. Anxiety disorders are treatable, and the sooner you seek help, the better.

Learn More About Anxiety in Teen Boys at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center

Society expects teen boys to be high achievers. Those expectations are the most significant cause of teen anxiety. It's counter-intuitive because they can miss opportunities in life due to anxiety disorders. Fortunately, Stonewater can help. We offer evidence-based treatment at our treatment center, so your teen can avoid the consequences. If your teenager cannot undertake day-to-day activities due to anxiety, do not wait any longer. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at 662.373.2828 today to access a wide range of treatment programs for holistic healing and to better understand anxiety in teen boys.