Lately, my 13 year old has been super anxious about EVERYTHING. School, friends, even just going to a new place seems to stress them out. They used to be pretty confident, but now it’s like they’re second-guessing themselves constantly. They’ve been coming to me a lot more often with worries, and I don’t know if this is just a normal teen phase or something I should really be concerned about. Any other parents of teens experiencing this? What do you do to help them manage their anxiety?
I could have written this myself! My 11-year-old has been acting the same way lately second-guessing every decision and worrying about things that never seemed to bother them before. Is this just what happens as they grow up? 
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My daughter started showing similar signs of anxiety when she was around 11. It felt like overnight, everything became overwhelming for her. I ended up talking to a therapist, and they suggested creating a routine with small, manageable goals. It’s helped her to feel more in control. Not a magic solution, but we’re getting there. You’re definitely not alone, Maura!
I’ve been through something similar with my 13-year-old. One thing that worked for us was practicing mindfulness. We started doing 5-minute breathing exercises together in the morning. It’s so simple but it’s made a big difference in helping her manage her anxiety. She still has tough days, but it gives her a tool to use when she’s feeling overwhelmed. Maybe something like that could help your kid too?
I feel you, Maura! My 12-year-old son also started showing more anxiety as middle school began. He’s nervous about grades, friends, everything. Honestly, I try to remind him that everyone feels this way sometimes, even adults. We’ve been open about how anxiety is normal, and it helps him talk through his feelings instead of bottling them up. Have you tried something like that with your kid?
It’s so hard seeing your kid like this. My oldest went through the same thing, and it was tough on all of us. We ended up getting some professional support, and it helped her develop coping strategies. We started small, like encouraging her to face little challenges and then celebrating when she succeeded. It helped rebuild her confidence bit by bit. I really recommend talking to a counselor if things don’t improve, teenage years are complicated and it’s better to be on top of it. You’re doing the best you can by being there for them!
My 13 year-old daughter is the same way, worried about everything from school assignments to texting friends back. It’s like they carry the weight of the world on their shoulders. I wish I had advice, but I’m here to commiserate. It’s so draining! Sometimes I find myself getting frustrated when I shouldn’t. Is there any part of your day that triggers it more than others?