Anxiety in Teens: How to Manage
Anxiety in Teens: How to Manage
Anxiety is when you feel worried or scared. It's normal to have anxiety now and then. But for some teens, anxiety gets so strong that they have trouble coping with daily life.
Learning ways to manage anxiety and its causes, like stress, can help make your daily life better.
How does anxiety affect me?
Anxiety can cause health problems. These may include:
Headaches.
Body pain.
High blood pressure.
Sleep problems.
Mental health symptoms, like mood changes and panic attacks.
How to recognize anxiety and stress
Anxiety and stress are linked in many ways. For instance, having stress for a long time can lead to anxiety. But there are some differences.
Stress:
Is caused by something hard happening around you.
Goes away after the hard thing is over.
Anxiety:
Can happen for no clear reason.
Can stay after a stressful event is over.
How to manage lifestyle changes
To help manage your anxiety and stress, you could:
Do things that help you feel calm, such as:
Meditating.
Relaxing your muscles.
Deep breathing.
Coloring or drawing.
Move your body. You could:
Take a short walk each day.
Do yoga.
Do things you like or that are fun for you, such as:
Reading.
Listening to music.
Spend time in nature or watch nature videos.
Try to change negative thoughts to positive ones.
Talk to friends, family, or a trusted adult who supports you.
Follow these instructions at home:
Lifestyle
Get enough good sleep each night. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time each day.
Eat healthy.
Drink enough water.
General instructions
Take your medicines only as told.
Ask your health care provider about treatments that may help. You may need:
Medicine.
Talk therapy with a counselor.
Help learning coping skills, such as:* Meditation.* Deep breathing.
Where to find support
For support, you can reach out to:
Your provider.
A mental health expert, such as a therapist or counselor.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Teen & Young Adult HelpLine (Mon–Fri, 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET) by:
Calling 800-950-NAMI (800-950-6264).
Texting "NAMI" to 62640.
Emailing [email protected]opens in new tab/window.
Even though anxiety is a normal part of life, it doesn't have to control your life. Talk to your provider or counselor if you have questions or concerns about anxiety, treatment, or coping, or if you need help finding support.
Where to find more information
To learn more, go to:
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at acf.govopens in new tab/window.
Click on the magnifying glass and type "behavioral health resources for teens and young adults."
Find the link you need.
Contact a health care provider if:
You have stress you can't handle.
Your anxiety stops you from doing daily tasks.
You avoid things out of fear, worry, or stress.
Your symptoms don't get better with treatment or they get worse.
You have new symptoms.
Get help right away if:
You feel like you may hurt yourself or others.
You have thoughts about taking your own life.
You have other thoughts or feelings that worry you.
These symptoms may be an emergency. Take one of these steps right away:
Go to your nearest emergency room.
Call 911.
Contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free and confidential):
Call or text 988.
Chat online at chat.988lifeline.orgopens in new tab/window.
For Veterans and their loved ones:
Call 988 and press 1.
Text the Veterans Crisis Line at 838255.
Chat online at veteranscrisisline.netopens in new tab/window.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
Document Revised: 03/24/2026 Document Reviewed: 03/24/2026
Elsevier Patient Education © 2026 Elsevier Inc.