Anxiety and Teens

Anxiety can look differently in adolescents than in children or adults.  Many times, adolescents have different things that trigger their anxiety.  Let’s first look at what anxiety is.  According to the American Psychological Association anxiety is defined as, “an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure.  Many times, it comes in the form of intrusive thoughts, worries, and concerns.  Sometimes anxiety can be beneficial, it can help us become aware of certain dangers or help us prepare and pay attention in different situations. 

 With adolescents, anxiety can cause them to begin wanting to avoid people or situations that trigger or worsen their anxiety.  Oftentimes, this is school, social activities, and even family. They tend to have significant anxiety surrounding feeling embarrassed, humiliated, rejected, or looked down on.   Anxiety in adolescents is common with 1 in 3 experiencing a form of anxiety disorder.  Teens experiencing anxiety can also experience depression, self-harm, and substance use.  Some of the signs that your teen may be experiencing anxiety are changes in behavior, irritability, avoiding activities, school avoidance, grades dropping, trouble sleeping or concentrating, chronic stomach pain, headaches, and fatigue. 

 Some of the things that parents can do are talk to their teens about their anxiety.  Have an open dialogue with them about what it feels like to them.  If you asked 50 teens what anxiety feels like to them, you will get 50 different answers.  So, find out what the experience is like for your teen.  Validate and empathize with them, but do not dismiss their worries or anxieties.  Seek outside help if needed from your teen’s pediatrician or a counselor.  Ask them what they prefer!  Be there to support them as they work through this, but don’t do it alone!

What is Health At Every Size?

Health At Every Size (HAES) is an approach to public health that seeks to de-emphasize weight loss as a goal and to reduce stigma to larger body people. Pursuing health is neither a moral imperative nor an individual obligation, and health status should never be used to judge, oppress, or determine the value of an individual. Every individual has their own body shape and size that is the best for them. Every body type, shape, and weight should be treated with respect. Unfortunately in our diet culture, we stigmatize the larger body individuals. The truth is, is that you can be healthy across a wide range of body shapes and weights. The ideal body weight for you is whatever makes you feel strong and energetic and lets you lead a normal life. The basic premise of Health At Every Size is that your well-being and habits are more important than any number on the scale.

This may sound scary to many individuals because of the diet culture we live in. We are told to try this, or that, to lose more weight, just to be healthy. This is not backed up by science but it is a multi-billion dollar culture that feeds off of individuals’ insecurities and offers a “quick fix”. Diet culture can and does lead to eating disorders and disordered eating.

There are 5 principles to Health At Every Size as listed on the ASDAH website:

1. Weight Inclusivity - Accept and respect the inherent diversity of body shapes and sizes and reject the idealizing or pathologizing of weights.

2. Health Enhancement- Support health policies that improve and equalize access to information and services, and personal practices that improve human well-being, including attention to individual physical, economic, social, spiritual, emotional, and other needs.

3. Respectful Care- Acknowledge our biases, and work to end weight discrimination, weight stigma, and weight bias. Provide information and services from an understanding that socio-economic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, and other identities impact weight stigma and support environments that address these inequities.

4. Eating for Well-Being- Promote flexible, individualized eating based on hunger, satiety, nutritional needs, and pleasure, rather than any externally regulated eating plan focused on weight control.

5. Life-Enhancing Movement- Support physical activities that allow people of all sizes, abilities, and interests to engage in enjoyable movement, to the degree that they choose.