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5 TIPS TO BEAT TEENAGE ANXIETY

#anxiety, #askvicki

Do you find yourself worrying more than you did before about what might happen? Do you panic at the thought of speaking in class, or going out with a group of friends at the weekend? Is that test you’ve got coming up, getting you into a state?

Well you’re not alone and feeling anxious is the body’s way of preparing you for something new or challenging that you may consider a danger or threat. Most people are able to manage these new feelings but for others simply thinking about these situations can cause stress and leave them feeling unable to cope.

As you become more aware of the world around you it is only natural that you will start to consider some quite adult topics and because they are new to you it may be that you find you become stressed and this is really all that anxiety is….stress!

Some of the signs that you are experiencing anxiety are:-


  • Sweaty palms
  • A faster heartbeat
  • Change to your breathing pattern
  • Nausea
  • A need to visit the toilet more frequently
  • Shaking of the hands and legs
  • A dry mouth

Don’t panic, these sensations are the body’s natural reaction to a new or challenging situation and most of us experience these…even as adults! It’s called the ‘fight or flight’ response and is caused by a rush of chemicals called hormones that work very quickly to boost energy levels should you wish to run away from the situation you find yourself in.

Of course most of us do not need to run away from anything! And whilst it can feel uncomfortable at first, once the brain has had time to evaluate the situation the ‘fight or flight’ response is deactivated and these signs start to disappear.

Here are five tips to help you manage those anxious moments that we can all experience from time to time.


  • Join In - Spending time with those you feel close to such as family or friends will allow you to feel supported and secure, even if this is simply hanging out at break time or watching TV together. Chatting about your fears with someone who genuinely cares for you can often help you get things into perspective and most likely they have felt this way too and you will quickly see this is not unique to you.
  • Inhale…Exhale - By this I mean relax, take some deep breaths allow the body to loosen up and become less tense. Breathe slowly; in through the nose and out through the mouth and continue to do so until you feel calm and relaxed.
  • Eat, Sleep, Play - Don’t be tempted to grab the nearest chocolate bar when you feel anxious it will only give you temporary boost, instead choose some fruit or have a sandwich. Go for a walk, a swim, a dance, as this sends oxygen to every part of the body ensuring it operates at its best, it’s a great way to lift your mood too! Finally, get enough sleep and our blog entitled Too Tired for School should help.
  • Look on the bright side – focus on things that are beautiful and good in your life. Allow yourself the luxury of dreaming how fabulous it would be if you succeeded beyond your wildest dreams at this challenge.
  • Step back in time – if you have felt anxious before, take the time to reflect on what the outcome was. Chances are nothing awful happened and you got through the task without any issues. Use this experience to help you understand that things are rarely as bad as we make them out to be.

Finally, did you know that these feelings can actually work to your advantage and enhance your performance, leaving your mind alert and your body ready for action?

Note:When anxiety or worry feels extreme, it may be a sign of an anxiety disorder. For someone who has feels they may have this condition it is wise to avoid taking online tests as these are not always reliable. Instead seek the advice of a medical professional, such as a doctor or school counsellor. Our tips can help too and are a good place to start if you feel anxious.

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Comments

shark lover

i was geting a lot of anxiety but after doing some mindfullnes i feel so much better.

to relatable?

i have 2 tips 4 u. first: try and find something u like 2 do at home, if its drawing or riding a bike or listening 2 your fave tunes, and just spend some time doing that on your own or with a friend u can trust. i was getting really stressed with all the noise in my life 4 ages but then i found that i was good at painting and i do a bit of that every day and it helps soooooo much. my second tip is mindfullnes. u could find a mindfullnes teacher on youtube or take some time 2 clear your mind and just be in the momment. take a deep breath in......and out again. try and calm down. from shark lover.

Darkness to titanic101

Me too

Titanic101

I have anxiety and noise sensitivity which makes me really sensitive to certain sounds like loud music, high pitched sounds, and some little sounds like coins jangling. And sometimes when I hear these noises it gives me a panic attack and I’ll run away and hide somewhere, probably cry and block my ears. These tips did help and I’ve found some other ways of coping, I have headphones I’ll wear just to quieten down the world a bit and when I have a panic attack I’ll do the 54321 game. Thanks so much to everyone who made this website it has helped so much. ❤️

CARROT KID

This was extremely useful and I was able to eat my carrots and be safe xx

Any advice for me?

This is so relatable for me, my head of house has to drag me in when I’m in tears at the school get every morning. I get the same questions at break time with my mates and I can’t deal with the noise and the overwhelming situations around me. There is a club I could go to at break at lunch but on top of “teenage” anxiety I have social anxiety and autism, it would be like hell for me and I don’t know what to do.

Relatable?

I don't know if I am the only one, but I am so anxious about going into my classes that I have to have a battle with myself every morning, I mentally cannot cope with the stress and noise of the classes, it makes me so anxious and I barely have any friends that relate to and understand my issues. The amount of times people say "Where were you yesterday?" or, "Where you skipping class.", "Why are you always so quiet, it's really annoying." and it just makes my anxiety so much worse because everyone is speaking to me at once when I lack in confidence and can't deal with the noise/ overwhelming environment anyway, any advice for me? <3

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