Adolescents are know to be moody, or experience “teenage angst”. However, when anxiety begins to impact a teen’s daily life, it might be a sign of an anxiety disorder. If you are the parent of a teen with an anxiety disorder, here are a few things you should know.

• It’s not a “phase”. Sometimes, parents can dismiss an anxiety disorder in teens as a phase that adolescents go trough. Anxiety disorders are serious mental health matters that need proper treatment.
• Anxiety is common among adolescents. About one in four teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19 are affected by an anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
• There are other options besides medication. There are many anxiety disorder treatment options, including therapy and mindfulness.
• Your child should learn coping mechanisms. To avoid anxiety becoming an even larger issue, your child should be equipped with coping mechanisms to handle their anxiety. The earlier you start with anxiety disorder treatment, the better.

Anxiety disorders are manageable with proper care and treatment. Supporting your teen along the way will be a huge help for your teen.