Anxiety in Teens Overview
How Teen Anxiety is Different
Causes for Teens
Symptoms in Teens
School Refusal
Substance Abuse
What Parents Can Do
What’s Counseling Look Like?

Depending on the situation, almost everyone can feel overwhelmed with anxiety and anxiety disorders affect 25% of Black teens between 13 and 18 years old (1).  Research has demonstrated untreated Black teens with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse.  However, managing anxiety can be learned, so that you can do the things that are important to you.  And though getting Black teens to open up about serious anxiety isn’t easy – it’s important.  Below is helpful information on how to tell when commonplace worries, we all experience have escalated into an anxiety disorder, and what you can do about it.

Anxiety in Black Teens

There’s an array of evidence showing how the covid pandemic has increased the prevalence of anxiety in teens.  It’s not surprising, given how lockdowns and social distancing disrupted their education, isolated them from friends, and denied Black teens of many of the activities and types of events they enjoy most.

We’re all hoping anxiety in Black teens declines and they can rebound as life returns to something like normal.   But we have to stay mindful anxiety in Black teens was already on the rise prior to the pandemic due to; mounting pressure to succeed in school; active shooter drills and a world that feels less safe; the erosion social media can have on self-esteem; and more.   Thus recognizing the often subtle signs of anxiety in Black teens, early,  is important in getting them the help they need sooner

How Anxiety in Black Teens is Different 

Each stage of adolescent development differs in worries and vulnerabilities. When children are younger, they’re susceptible to feeling anxious about things outward from them —  the dark, monsters under the bed, animals or something bad happening to their parents.  But once teens, they’re far more prone to feel anxiety inward and about themselves — their academic performance,  changes in their bodies, or how they are perceived by others.

For some, anxiety has been a daily fixture in their life long prior to becoming a teen and not gone unnoticed by parents.  But since the child functioned well and persevered in early adolescents despite their distress, nothing was done about it. 

Or in some instances the child did undergo treatment and improvements were realized.  But as they aged into the middle and high school years and felt more and different expectations along that journey,  the once treated anxiety resurfaced (and can become more severe).   

And then there are those who weren’t anxious children, but with becoming a teen, adolescent-onset kinds of anxiety surfaced, including social anxiety and panic attacks.

Causes of Anxiety in Black Teens 

A lot of anxiety is rooted in perfectionism as Black teens commonly report they worry about being seen as not smart or doing something embarrassing, along with an intense pressure to earn nothing less than straight A’s.   This feeling commonly brings rise to debilitating social anxiety.    

Anxiety in Black teens is also commonly centered around their bodies and the changes they’re undergoing.  Physically developing either before or after most of your peers tends to cause Black teens to feel ‘out of step’ and ‘different’.   Early physical development in girls affects them more negatively (than if they were in sync with their peers or even late).   Boys tend to be particularly sensitive to height and that translatering to having a profound impact on confidence and self-esteem.  Left untreated, some teens develop a form of extreme anxiety known as body dysmorphic disorder, wherein they are obsessed with a real or imagined perceived physical flaw, causing distress and interfering with their daily functioning.

Studies indicate (2)(3) anxiety in Black teens along with lower self-esteem is exacerbated by social media and texting.   It’s common for Black teens to feel bad about themselves when they see on social media the seeming appearance that everyone online is looking perfect.  Black teens commonly respond to what they see by sharing pictures that make them appear perfect, too.   But when their social media profile doesn’t quite match up with how they genuinely feel, they often end up feeling worse.  

Peer approval and acceptance is extremely important for Black teens, who often measure that by counting “likes” on social media.  Some Black teens make a tremendous effort to capture the one photo people will click ‘liking’ the most – and should the “like” clicks not come in as hoped for, it can feel very personal.  Black Teens prone to concerns about their self-image will inevitably compare themselves to the number of followers, friends, and likes others have  online.   This can become a negative lens of how to view and measure self and fuels a myriad of anxiety disorders. 

The Symptoms of Anxiety in Black Teens

Whether it’s being withdrawn and avoiding or easily irritable and lashing out, symptoms of anxiety in Black teens can vary widely.  Because Black teens are skilled at hiding their feelings and thoughts, even to the experienced eye of parents the symptoms of anxiety in Black teens is commonly overlooked.   Everyone experiences symptoms of anxiety differently; the following are behavioral signs of anxiety in Black teens:

• Excessive anxiety or fear about things yet to happen 

• Excessive concern about peers, school, or extracurricular activities 

• Constant worry or fear about personal safety and that of family members 

• Irritability 

• Displaying behavior that’s clingy with parents and other family members 

• Fear of staying overnight in an unfamiliar place

• An inability to relax 

• An inability to concentrate 

• Easily being startled or alarmed  

• Frequently complaining of pains (headaches, stomach aches, muscle aches)

• Trouble sleeping 

• Avoiding/refusing to go to school 

• Excessive lethargy or fatigue 

• Social withdrawal 

If you suspect that your Black teen has anxiety that exceeds normal worries and concerns, it would be sensible to have conversation with them.  A helpful way to start this conversation is to share your observation(s),  and simply ask, “Would you like to talk about anything in particular?” This will comfort your Black teen as they see you’re aware, observant, care and want to help. 

Anxiety in Black Teens and School Refusal

Since much of a Black teens’ world is connected with school — think social life, sports, academics, and other activities — school is commonly the central hub from which anxiety in Black teens emerges.  Thus when kids are resistant to attending school, it’s not usually about school itself but the anxiety triggers rooted therein. 

School Refusal, sometimes referred to as ‘school phobia’ and or ‘school avoidance’ reflects those Black teens who find frequent excuses to either stay home, or directly refuse to go to school.   The problem can be rooted in a fear of being called upon by a teacher, being wrong or making an embarrassing mistake, and ultimately the object of ridicule by classmates. 

Anxiety in Black Teens and Substance Use

Similar to how adults who are anxious, Black teens who are anxious may use substances (vaping, recreational drugs and or alcohol) as coping mechanisms for their discomfort.   For the Black teen and short-term, this coping mechanism (self-medication) seems to alleviate anxiety and stress because it numbs the worry within the brain.  But in the longer term, and as the anxiety persists, the teen relies on the substance to get through the day and develops a dependency on the substance. Unfortunately I do not treat clients struggling with substance abuse challenges, however contact me and I will be pleased to provide a reference to a clinical practice that can be helpful in responding to substance abuse issues.

What Parents Can Do About Anxiety in Black Teens

As they become more independent it’s common for Black teens to not always confide in their parents.  Thus cultivating a supportive style in regular communication goes a long way in forging the kind of trust and comfort a Black teen needs to openly disclose feelings.    Ask your Black teen about their day, validate their feelings, and offer some encouraging words.   It’s fine if they’re hesitant on detail, they’ll know you’re truly interested and concerned.  With time opportunities to engage in a more in-depth conversation will surface.

Black teens seek supportive connections and venting of their feelings with their parents.  Their symptoms of anxiety can be eased when parents listen and validate without judging or criticizing.   Being in the moment in conversations with undivided attention, unwavering eye contact, and really listening while they’re speaking (without interruption) will help them feel comfortable expressing themselves completely

What Is Anxiety in Black Teens Counseling?

Anxiety in Black teens counseling is a therapeutic application of talk therapy in a safe environment with me, a Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC, NCC,  The aim of the counseling is for the Black teen to more clearly understand and express their thoughts, feelings, identify and resolve issues, and learn healthy coping skills. The counseling can take place in a 1:1,  client:therapist format session  or as group therapy.   Therapy can also be effective in preventing minor issues from festering and growing into major problems down the line.  It’s not uncommon to have a small handful of therapy sessions be transformative and improve your Black teen’s overall well-being and new found trajectory in life.   What takes place and is achieved in these sessions can be summarized in the 5 points below:

1. Talk. Therapists have people talk about their feelings. Placing your feelings into words allows you to learn more about yourself. When you talk through your difficult feelings, it helps you to pause and deal with them, instead of acting on upset feelings. When you talk and express  your positive feelings, the things going well for you, it furthers more good feelings. Therapists provide guidance enabling you to see how your thoughts, feelings, choices, and actions are connected and affect each other.
2. Learn things. Therapists teach lessons about thoughts, coping skills, emotions,  facing fears, and more.
3. Practice new skills. A therapist might teach skills like positive self-talk, mindfulness, and calm breathing – which you’ll learn to apply in your therapy sessions. 
4. Work out problems. Your therapist will ask your thoughts and feelings on how your issues affect you at home and at school. You’ll talk this through employing the skills you’re developing to work through problems.
5. Find your strengths. Therapy repairs and builds inner strengths like confidence and courage. It helps you see yourself through a healthy lens of capability and  feel happier in your life.

1 https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/facts-statistics

2 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0706743719885486

3 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2167702617723376

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