Being a teenager can be difficult in today’s world. Adding in the challenges of school makes it even harder. Many teens experience some level of anxiety during this time, as problems with friends, romantic relationships, assignments, and extracurricular activities occur.
These feelings are completely normal and understandable. However, what if your child seems to always have fearful feelings about school no matter how much reassurance you give or how much time passes by? This may be an indication that he or she is suffering from an anxiety disorder.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
An anxiety disorder is when worry and fear over a perceived danger persist and in a greater degree than the stressor warrants. These emotions interfere with the ability to function normally. Other symptoms often include:
- Sleep problems
- Changes in appetite
- Depression
- Social withdrawal
- Trouble with concentration
- Poor grades or behavior at school
- Low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness
- Mood swings
- Low amounts of energy
Examples of disorders are generalized anxiety, panic disorder, phobias, separation anxiety, and social anxiety. Treatment often involves medication and therapy.
For school-related anxiety, the fear revolves around school issues, such as tests and grades. Your teen may not want to go to school at all and can experience physical ailments such as nausea or exhibit defiance when it’s time to leave. He or she may visit the nurse’s office frequently and come home early.
Seek Out Professional Help if Needed
While you play an irreplaceable role in your child’s success, you can’t dismiss the importance of professional assistance. In several cases, anxiety disorders require treatment from a mental health professional to increase the likelihood of lasting progress.
How Can Telehealth Help?
Treating social or school anxiety in teens can produce long-term advantages as well as overall positive well-being. One method for accessing treatment is via telehealth. Telehealth is ideal for teens for a number of reasons:
Comfort with Technology
Technology is used heavily among adolescents. Teens often use it as a means of social branding, creativity, keeping up with pop culture trends, and staying connected to peers. Technology has also become a way for those who feel socially isolated to feel more connected. It is also particularly helpful for those who struggle with social anxiety. Accessing treatment through video conferencing appeals to the adolescents familiarity with technology, which then increases the acceptability and satisfaction for both parents and teens.
Convenience and Comfortability
Parents attempting to get a resistant or anxious teen to treatment can often be a challenge. Participating in treatment from the comfort of his or her own home (or bedroom) can increase the likelihood of treatment engagement and stabilization for teens.
Effectiveness of Telehealth
This form of healthcare treatment is innovative and has been increasing as a preferred method throughout the last decade. Many research studies have shown high ratings of overall satisfaction of telehealth use by families, adolescents, and other treatment professionals. Telehealth breaks down many barriers that prohibit people from accessing treatment and increases treatment compliance. It is an ethical approach to providing thorough assessments, as well as partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient treatment sessions. It can position teens to stabilize psychiatric and co-occurring symptoms and to thrive at a higher functioning level.
Overall, the most important thing is to get in tune with what your teen needs from you so you can offer more personalized support. At High Focus Centers, your teen will receive the treatment and therapy necessary to fight their condition. Contact us today to find out which program may be right for your son or daughter.
