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Helping Your Teen Overcome Anxiety:
A Guide for Parents

As parents, watching our teens struggle with anxiety can leave us feeling helpless. 

But there’s good news—therapeutic approaches like EMDR, DBT, CBT and talk therapy provide effective ways to support our children. 

Let’s delve into these therapies with real-life scenarios that might resonate with your teen’s experiences.

EMDR: Healing After Trauma

Imagine your teen, Sarah, is usually vibrant but has become withdrawn after a car accident. She’s plagued by anxiety, especially when cars whiz by. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) could be a beacon of healing for her. In EMDR therapy, Sarah would focus on traumatic memories while engaging in eye movements prompted by a therapist, which can help her brain reprocess the memory and reduce the anxiety it triggers.

DBT: Balancing Emotions and Relationships

Let’s say your daughter, Emily, is prone to intense emotional swings and it’s impacting her relationships. After a minor disagreement with a friend, she might spiral into a wave of anxiety, fearing the end of the friendship. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) can equip Emily with skills to manage her emotions and navigate interpersonal conflicts more effectively. DBT emphasizes the development of four key skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. Emily can learn to stay present, manage stressors without becoming overwhelmed, regulate her emotions, and interact with others in a way that is assertive, yet respects both her needs and those of others. 

CBT: Changing the Cycle of Anxiety

Now, picture your son, Alex, who is constantly worried about failing. Before tests, his mind races with thoughts like “I’m going to fail, and everyone will think I’m stupid.” Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help Alex identify these negative thought patterns and challenge their validity. He’ll learn to replace them with more positive and realistic thoughts, like “I’ve studied hard, and I can handle this test.” With CBT, Alex can develop strategies to cope with his anxiety and break the cycle of negative thinking.

Embracing the Journey Together

As a parent, you can play a pivotal role in your teen’s journey through anxiety. It starts with an open conversation and a listening ear. Offer support and reassure them that it’s okay to seek help. Working with mental health professionals, you can decide on the best therapeutic approach for your teen.

Remember, each teen is unique, and their path to overcoming anxiety will be too. Some teens might find solace in the structured approach of CBT while others may benefit from the trauma-focused healing of EMDR or the broad support of talk therapy.

Therapy is an invaluable tool, but it’s most effective when woven into a fabric of support that includes family, friends, and sometimes, medication or lifestyle changes. Your teen’s struggles with anxiety don’t have to be faced alone. With the right support, they can navigate their way to a more confident and less anxious future.

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