Have you ever laid awake the night before a big test, convincing yourself that you’re destined to fail? You’ve spent countless hours studying. You have a solid grade overall in the course. But, for some reason, your brain can’t picture any other outcome than a giant “F” on top of that exam. As your thoughts are spiraling out of control, your heart starts racing. You can’t calm yourself down, no matter how much deep breathing you try.

That’s anxiety, my friend. It’s incredibly common among people of all ages, even teenagers. Understanding anxiety and its symptoms, as well as some ways to cope, might help you move through it with a bit more ease.

Understanding Anxiety

First of all, anxiety is much more than just feeling a little stressed out about school work. Anxiety is more of a constant worry or fear that becomes overwhelming. Sometimes, it can feel like your brain is constantly running through a never-ending to-do list, and each task seems more overbearing than the last. 

Anxiety is intense and persistent, and it requires more than a good night’s sleep or an extra study session to soothe. 

Symptoms

Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, so there are no universal symptoms. Some of the physical symptoms someone experiencing anxiety might feel include a racing heart, shallow breathing, sweating, trembling, exhaustion, and even gastrointestinal issues. 

There are also plenty of emotional symptoms of anxiety as well, like feeling a constant sense of impending doom or feeling extremely nervous and restless. Anxiety might cause difficulty controlling worry, especially over everyday situations, and it can prevent an individual from concentrating on anything other than the present worry. You might also feel the urge to avoid anything that you know triggers your anxiety. 

The Experience of Anxiety

Anxiety can be an overwhelming experience. Imagine that your heart is a rapid, thudding drumbeat inside your body that keeps speeding up to the point that it feels as though it might burst from your chest. Your hands are trembling, and you can’t seem to take a deep breath. 

Inside your brain, it might feel like your thoughts are a tornado swirling around, and it’s impossible to grab hold of one idea and hold onto it. You can’t focus on one task or one thought, because your brain is cycling through them in a rapid pace that feels out of control.

How Anxiety Affects Daily Life

Anxiety has the ability to impact every aspect of someone’s life. It can make social interactions feel like a minefield, and your work might feel like a mountain that never stops growing. In teens especially, it can lead to poorer performance and lower grades. It can even make it difficult to go to school at all, which leads to issues with attendance. When you are at school, it might seem impossible to focus on lessons or participate in any extracurricular activities. 

As previously mentioned, anxiety might also manifest as low confidence or self-esteem. If it feels difficult to keep your grades up or maintain friendships, then it’s easy to also begin thinking worse of yourself because of that. The worse it gets, the more likely someone is to isolate oneself even more.

Coping with Anxiety

It’s always important to remember that you are not alone. According to the National Institute of Health, about 32% of adolescents cope with anxiety disorders. This has only gotten worse since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, as young people are facing more stressors than ever. 

Seeking therapy, whether it be individual talk therapy or group therapy, is an important step in coping with anxiety, and a professional will help guide you to other techniques that are tailored to your own experience. Some of those could include deep breathing, practicing mindfulness, grounding techniques, and ongoing self-esteem building.

Here are some resources to get started:

• National Alliance on Mental Illness: 800-950-NAMI (800-950-6264)

• The Jed Foundation 

• Minding Your Mind

It might feel overwhelming, but anxiety is very manageable with the right tools. Just remember that your community is your best support system. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Not only will it be beneficial for you, but you never know who else might benefit in the process.