A 14-year-old female, studying for her 8th-grade history test, no big deal, not a life or death situation becomes one when it turns out the same 14-year-old girl suffers from non-specific anxiety disorder just like 25% of all teens. You heard me right, 25% of ALL teens, suffer from anxiety in some form or fashion throughout their lives. I was one of them, for years starting in junior high and even now as a sophomore in college. I struggle with simple activities such as Daily living activities, social situations, speaking out loud, and in the back of our head, our little friend anxiety says it doesn't matter if we are having a good day, everything we do is wrong anyways.
As a teenager, there is expectations already set that are a bit high and seemingly out of reach. specifically, teenage girls are supposed to uphold the standards that the world has created regarding their appearance. " you weigh too much, you don't weigh enough, you're too tall, you're too short, your body shape is weird." No matter what you look like, the world will nitpick even the most beautiful of features, it also completely discards the whole " inside is what matters " spill.
Anxiety doesn't just stop with that little voice in the back of the head. a high percentage of girls and boys who suffer from anxiety develop other mental illnesses. including, but not limited too, Depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide. These are silent killers in American schools. Anxiety disorders are not always noticed because it's usually pushed off to be a " Phase."
If you noticed your child become excessively obsessed with their outward appearance, sleeping patterns have changed, eating has changed and they no longer have the same social lives they once had, please, for their sake, don't put it off as a phase. Please try sitting down, with an open mind speaking to your child about how they're feeling and working alongside them and licensed professionals to help them heal and overcome them.
for more information about helping your child with an anxiety disorder visit, www.adaa.org
