Tips for parents for helping your anxious teen

1. Always offer them understanding, love, empathy support. Gently challenge them if they express negative beliefs about themselves or are too harsh.

   
   

2. Encourage them to accept themselves as they are (eg; ‘being anxious doesn’t mean you are bad’). One of the parents often has a history of anxiety themselves and you should share this with your teen.

   
   

3. Help develop confidence and skills by building on the things they are good at (anxious teenagers are very good at focusing on the things they are not good at)

   
   

4. Make sure they get enough sleep. Limit screen time late at night. Let them sleep in if they need to.

   
   

5. Provide consistency. Encourage them to participate in activities which give them a stable sense of connection and belonging throughout their teens – even if sometimes through entertainment/fictional characters.

   
   

6. Professional help? If all else fails and your teen is really struggling with their anxiety, consider seeking professional help. A good therapist will provide a perspective that’s different to that of a parent and of course hopefully help your teen learn to manage their anxiety and feel less abnormal.