Anxiety, although a normal human occurrence, involves the experience of symptoms that can become intensified when anxiety increases. Teenage anxiety, if experienced for prolonged periods, may involve the following symptoms:
Cognitive / Mental / Emotional Symptoms
When worrying thoughts fill the mind and the person starts to feel troubled, the following anxiety symptoms may be present:
l Experience of fear
l Thoughts of danger
l Feeling moody or irritable
l Difficulty concentrating or focusing
l Struggling to remember
l Finding it hard to differentiate between what is real and unreal
l Feeling frustrated or impatient
l Having racing thoughts
l Thinking fearfully about the future
l Experiencing terrifying images in the mind
l Negative repetitive self-talk
Teenagers may feel like an engine or machine is driving their thoughts and they can’t keep up. Their minds start to feel tired, and their inability to concentrate coupled with expectations in friendships and academic achievement may increase anxiety levels.
Physical Symptoms of Anxiety
As the mind and emotions feel more troubled or worried, the body also starts to have a stress response that if left untreated can lead to more severe mental and physical illnesses. The physical symptoms of anxiety may include:
l Restlessness or increased energy
l Inability to sleep
l Rapid heart rate/beat
l Fast and heavy breathing
l Chest pain or tension
l Muscle pain or tension
l Increased perspiration or sweating
l Shaking or trembling, noticeable in the hands
l Diarrhoea or indigestion
l Stomach ache
l Weakness or dizziness
l Fainting or passing out
Some of these physical symptoms to anxiety may increase as teenagers feel more stressed. Excessive experience of symptoms may lead to non-epileptic seizures or blackouts. Feeling physically ill can also accentuate the negative thoughts and emotions triggered by the anxiety. These cognitive or emotional symptoms coupled with the physical symptoms may then start to affect the teenagers’ behaviour, such as:
l Avoiding friends and people
l Isolating themselves from social situations
l No desire to meet new people, have new interests or experiences
l Appearing traumatised or panicked
l Repetitive or excessive behaviours
l Not completing tasks or avoiding responsibility
l Nightmares
