Anxiety in Teens

If you have spent much time talking with teenagers recently, you likely have picked up on how many of them are dealing with anxiety. I’m not sure that it was ever easy to be a teen, but it certainly is not easy now. While technology and social media can be good, they can also fuel that anxiety that teenagers (and adults) experience. Add to that the pandemic and disrupted routines for a couple of years during their development and it is a recipe for anxiety.

In his book, The Anxious Teen, Brock Morgan discussed some alarming statistics from the 2020 movie The Social Dilemma (which I highly recommend and is available on Netflix). There were a large number of increases in self-harm and suicide rates in 2010 which correlates to the year when smartphone ownership increased dramatically among teens.

 

“So why would looking at a screen cause so much suffering in the lives of teenagers today?” Morgan suggests five reasons:

1. “Comparison: Teenagers who have issues with depression and with suicidal thought report using social media almost constantly.
2. Addiction: Kids have a difficult time not overusing online media. Heck, I have a hard time not picking up my phone every five minutes. . . . Those who are frequently online are susceptible to finding themselves less interested in real life experience and real-life relationships.
3. Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is a growing problem. Yes, random people can comment on students’ pictures or send them incredibly mean messages, but many times the bullying will not come from strangers but from so-called friends their own age.
4. Sleep problems: Studies are clear that teens consume media at an exponentially higher rates when they have their phone in their bedroom.
5. Risky Behaviors. Did you know that 12% of kids between the ages of ten and nineteen have sent a sexual photo to someone? . . . these pictures do not just go away. Another risk is that sex offenders may use social networking . . . to contact and exploit children.” (Morgan

How can you help?

• Work at building stronger relationships with the teens in your life. Talk. Take a walk.
• Set an example for teens. When you are with people, focus on them. Keep the phone away.
• Help teens set boundaries for screentime.
• Do not allow teens to have their phones in their bedrooms overnight. Yes, you may have to buy them an alarm clock!
• Remind teens (and yourselves) that sometimes life is boring. Sometimes out of quiet come our deepest thoughts and the voice of God.

Many times, as adults we struggle with anxiety too. It comes out when we snap at family members, binge-watch mindless TV, or overdo our guilty pleasure food and drink. The Apostle Paul’s attitude provides a great example for us to follow that can help with our anxieties as we try to set an example.

⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

 

Let’s work to make the peace of God contagious!