We all know what anxiety feels like, although we may feel it in different ways: irritability, headaches, indigestion, muscle tension, fatigue, etc. But does how we feel and express anxiety have anything to do with our chronological age? In broad strokes, yes.
Teenagers & Anxiety
Young people are bundles of hormones, moods, and shifting energies. In addition to dealing with puberty, they are trying to navigate the social scene at school, the many teachers they work with, sibling and parent relationships, and the looming pressure of college and adulthood as they try to figure out who they are and what they want to do with their lives. About eight percent of children and teenagers experience anxiety disorder, and teenagers’ anxiety centers mostly on themselves:
- how they perform in school, in extracurricular activities, and on college entrance exams
- how they’re perceived by their peers
- their bodies (how and when they develop through puberty, their height and weight compared to their peers, and more)
In addition to experiencing different anxiety triggers than adults, teenagers typically show their anxiety in specific ways. They may become more irritable, have trouble concentrating (which affects their ability to do well in school), become intensely self-conscious to the point of trying to avoid activities and social situations they might otherwise enjoy, and experience physical symptoms of frequent stomachaches or headaches.
As a parent or parental figure in an anxious teenager’s life, you may find yourself getting frustrated with how often your teen needs reassurance or how often they express the same worries and fears over things that don’t seem that important to you. They may use their physical symptoms as a way to get out of going to school, and it can be hard, as a parent, to know how to help. Do you force them to “suck it up” and go to school even when they complain of a headache? Do you suspect that they’re using their worries as a way to get out of certain responsibilities?
While some teens may certainly use what they can to get out of extra work, you will be able to tell when their lethargy or irritability amp up or continue longer than usual. If that happens, take it seriously. Anxiety is no fun, but it can also become physically dangerous if it leads teens to experiment with drugs or alcohol as a way to find relief. Some teens also deal with anxiety by acting out in risky ways, including engaging in impulsive sexual behavior.
Seniors & Anxiety
At the other end of the age spectrum are seniors. Older adults may have lived with anxiety, diagnosed or not, most of their lives, or they may develop an anxiety disorder in their senior years. Anxiety disorders are diagnosed in about 4% of senior adults, but the number of seniors who experience anxiety is likely higher due to misconceptions about mental health disorders in this age group.
Unlike teenagers, seniors don’t have school, puberty, or life-defining choices to worry about. However, they do experience changes in their bodies that can contribute to anxiety, in this case due to aging and illness. And while they aren’t getting started in a career, they are looking to phase out of the work that has occupied much of their time for most of their adult lives.
Seniors’ anxiety is also triggered by big life changes, such as retirement, divorce, the death of a friend or loved one, downsizing a home, and more. Older adults may experience chronic pain or medical conditions due to things like arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and diabetes. Anxiety may be a side effect of certain medications as well.
Like teenagers with anxiety, seniors may find themselves worrying constantly, anticipating the worst. They may isolate themselves, avoiding situations that cause anxiety (especially if they have become anxious about driving places on their own). Other signs of anxiety in older adults include:
- Insomnia or poor sleep
- Excessive concern with safety
- A preoccupation with keeping their routine the same
- Hoarding
- Muscle tension and weakness/shakiness
- Depression
Just as with teens, anxiety can lead older adults to overuse substances, particularly alcohol, in an effort to self-medicate their feelings.
Diagnosis & Treatment for Teens and Seniors
Teenagers diagnosed with an anxiety disorder are typically best helped by cognitive-behavioral therapy, although some teens may be prescribed medication in more severe cases. Seniors may be more likely to resist treatment, especially if they have lived with an undiagnosed anxiety disorder for so long that they think it’s normal. In these cases, an anxiety screening test might provide incentive for them to seek treatment. Seniors can also benefit from therapy, especially exposure therapy, as well as medications like antidepressants.
If you’re a parent of a teen, a son or daughter of an elderly parent, or an older adult yourself, know that treatment for anxiety is effective and can help you or your loved one develop the courage to pursue a life rich with relationships, creativity, and fulfilling work. Our caring team in Middleton, WI, would welcome the chance to help you, or your child or parent, feel more at ease in the world. Through therapy, education, skill-building, recreational therapy, and, as needed, medication management, Miramont Behavioral Health has the compassion, professionalism, and resources to help our clients thrive.
