How Parents Can Help Their Clinically Anxious Teenage Daughter

The time of adolescence is a stressful period in one's life, full of anxiety and uncertainty. After being controlled by previously unknown stresses, like intensified parental expectations, drastic physical change, and hormones running haywire, there's no secret as to why millions of teenagers suffer from clinical anxiety during this transformative phase in life.

Anxious teens feel:

1. Fearfulness, as though everything in their environment is entirely out of their control.
2. Feelings of dreadfulness, as though something will eventually fall to pieces.
3. Feeling separated from themselves or the rest of reality. Otherwise referred to as depersonalization.

Anxious teens may physically display:

• Racing heart rate
• Tightening of the chest
• Butterflies
• Tense muscles
• Feeling as though they might vomit
• Misplaced anger
• Intense sadness

Teenage Anxiety's Possible Contributing Factors

Extreme anxiety sometimes manifests for no reason whatsoever. An anxiety attack usually occurs because the anxious person feels like they are in danger, even if no such threat exists. 

Suffering from anxiety is very common - Almost 25% of young people say they suffer from anxiety. Stats show that teens who feel as though they are alone in feeling anxious are not alone after all. Let your child know that millions of kids their age also suffer from similar conditions.

The human brain tends to be overprotective - Every brain is wired to keep its owner safe and secure. A human brain is a potent tool, more competent than any super-computer ever manufactured. But even with its vast capabilities, our brain sometimes reads into things that are not there. 

Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety

The anxiety-ridden adolescent ego is prone to holding on to irrational self-doubts and beliefs. Unfortunately, this illogical thinking may prove to be a contributing factor in an anxious teen's incapability of handling stress. With that in mind, teens must understand that the little things, or the 'what-ifs,' of life are trivial, minor complications that can be quickly resolved.

Additionally, teens should not let their imagination work against them. Instead, they should use their creativity and apply it to overcome their anxious tendencies.

To Parents of An Anxious Teenage Girl: 

So, does this article describe the anxiety your child endures daily? If so, it is up to you as a parent to help them come to a place of understanding. Help your teen realize that most of their stresses are temporary. Also, don't forget to remind them that you are there to support them every step of the way.

Moreover, tell your child how their fears are directly the result of neurochemical changes that sometimes occur during puberty. As they get older, managing anxiety gets easier to manage and deal with as young adults.

Seeking Residential Treatment for a Clinically Anxious Teenage Girl

Sometimes, when all other avenues of therapeutic means have not been effective, parents of clinically anxious or depressed teens should look towards more intensive forms of treatment - residential treatment therapy. 

First and foremost, residential treatment is not to be confused with behavior-mod programs that rely on punishment and fear to change students superficially. While many programs advertise as residential treatment programs, parents would be wise to do their due diligence regarding any prospective facility. 

Fortunately for parents of clinically anxious and depressed teenage girls, programs like that of Academy provide nurturing and experientially healing services to vulnerable, struggling teens. 

Neurofeedback is cutting-edge technology that has the behavioral and mental health community in a buzz - and for a good reason. 

Neurofeedback technology is a revolutionary treatment provenly effective in treating the most treatment-resistant and severe mental health-related issues, including depression, anxiety, and PTSD. 

The Clearview New Mind Neurofeedback Center is led by a team of compassionate Clearview professionals specially trained under and directed by New Mind Center, Dr. Soutar, Ph.D., and their Neurofeedback (NBF) professionals.

"There is no part of you that isn't influenced and regulated by your brain. Unhealthy patterns of brainwave activity can affect not only how well our brains perform but how we feel, how we respond to stress, how our bodies respond to illness, and how quickly we're able to "bounce back" from upsetting events."

Although we are the longest-running pacific coast therapeutic boarding school, our implementation of revolutionary treatments, like Neurofeedback, is a testament to our dedication to providing the best treatment possible for struggling teenage girls.  

For more information or immediate assistance, please call us today.