Teen Anxiety on the Rise
Anna Harrington
There is one thing all high school students have in common: stress. Teenagers have to deal with everything from high-level classes, sports, jobs, to many other responsibilities. According to a poll of 100 high school students in Alexandria, 94 percent found themselves anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed on a daily basis. Only 6 percent of those high school students never, or rarely felt stressed.
Teen anxiety is common and a normal reaction to stress. Some everyday tasks that can trigger anxiety are tests, projects, public speaking, big due dates, and athletic competitions. The brain will often respond to the anxious feeling with an increased heartbeat.
In teens especially, anxiety can go too far and damage family relationships and friendships. It can also negatively affect participation in extracurriculars and sports, as well as grades and completion of schoolwork. About a quarter of all 13- to 18-year-olds have an anxiety disorder, and a small five percent of those teenagers have a severe anxiety disorder.
There are many rising factors that are leading to teen anxiety. Everyone is different but the most common factors include high expectations from parents, peers, teachers, and coaches and pressure from them to succeed.
Also, social media can lower self-esteem, which makes it easy for teenagers to compare themselves to other people and feel bad about themselves.
While many peers, parents, teachers, coaches, and other acquaintances may feel helpless in situations where they know someone dealing with anxiety, there are some things they can do. It is important to always be aware of the signs of anxiety. Some signs include changes in behavior, avoidance of regular activities, dropping grades, and trouble sleeping.
On November 14, the T.C. Williams Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) will be offering a viewing of the film “Angst” at the counseling center at T.C. “Angst” is an original film, created to raise awareness for anxiety, specifically teen anxiety.
Following the showing of the film, there will be a community circle for audience members to participate in and share their thoughts on the film, as well as their general opinions on the subject of anxiety.
After the film and discussion, there will be interviews with kids, teens, parents, educators, and experts. The overall goal of the film “Angst,” discussion, and interviews is to help students, parents, teachers, and anyone else interested understand the symptoms of anxiety and how to better cope with it.
