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Supporting Anxiety in Teens and How Parents Can Help with Coping Plans
- Scarlet Plus LLC
- Dec 21, 2025
- 5 min read
Anxiety in Teens is a very common challenge for many families today. You might notice your child worrying about school, friends, or the future. At Caritas Behavioral Health Services, we know how hard it is to watch your teenager struggle with these heavy feelings. Our goal is to provide families in Columbia, MD and across Maryland with the tools they need to feel better. Whether your child needs help with generalized anxiety or more specific fears, there are ways to move forward together. We offer telehealth evaluations across Maryland and in person treatments at our office in Columbia.
Understanding the difference between normal stress and a more serious condition is the first step. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, many young people experience some form of anxiety as they grow up. However, when those feelings stop them from enjoying life or going to school, it is time to look closer. This blog will help you understand how coaching parents can make a big difference in a child's life.
Understanding Anxiety in Children or Teens
When we talk about anxiety in children or teenagers, we are looking at a wide range of feelings. Some kids might feel a constant sense of dread. Others might have very specific fears. For example, some teens struggle with social anxiety disorder where they fear being judged by others. You can learn more about this on our social anxiety disorder page.
Other teens might deal with obsessive compulsive disorder which involves repetitive thoughts and actions. We provide details on this at OCD page. It is important to know that anxiety is not just in the mind. It often shows up in the body too. Your teen might have stomach aches, headaches, or trouble sleeping. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that early intervention is key to helping kids manage these symptoms.
As a parent, your role is to be a supportive guide. You do not have to have all the answers right away. Just being there and showing that you care is a huge help. Coaching parents often involves learning how to listen without immediately trying to fix everything. Sometimes, a teen just needs to feel heard.
Coaching Parents to Use Exposure Strategies
One of the most effective ways to help with anxiety in teens is through something called exposure. This sounds scary, but it is a very gentle process when done correctly. Exposure means helping your teen face their fears in small and safe steps. Instead of avoiding the thing that makes them anxious, they learn that they can handle the discomfort.
When we talk about coaching parents, we focus on how to encourage your child to take these small steps. If your teen is afraid of talking in class, a small step might be saying hello to one person. Avoiding the fear usually makes the anxiety grow stronger over time. By facing it, the brain learns that the danger is not as big as it seemed.
At Caritas Behavioral Health Services, we help parents understand how to set up these small challenges. We offer evaluations through telehealth for anyone in Maryland. If you live near Columbia, MD, you can visit us for in person treatment sessions. You can find more information about our approach to anxiety and panic at this page.
Creating Effective Coping Plans for Your Child
A coping plan is like a toolbox for your teens mind. When they feel a wave of anxiety coming on, they can look at their plan to remember what to do. A good plan includes a few different types of tools.
First, include physical tools. This might be deep breathing or a short walk. These help calm the nervous system. Second, include mental tools. This could be a helpful phrase they say to themselves like, I have felt this before and I am safe. Third, include an action step. This is where they decide to stay in the situation rather than running away.
When you are coaching parents on these plans, we suggest writing them down. Keep the plan on a phone or a piece of paper in a backpack. This makes it easy to find when feelings get intense. For teens dealing with generalized anxiety disorder, having a plan can reduce the fear of the unknown. You can read more about this condition at this page.
How to Support Your Teen at Home
Your home should be a safe place where your teen feels understood. You can support them by keeping a regular routine. Knowing what to expect each day helps lower general stress levels. It is also helpful to model healthy behavior. If you feel stressed, talk about how you are managing it. This shows your teen that everyone has tough feelings and that they can be managed.
Try to avoid pressure. While we want teens to face their fears, we do not want to force them into situations they are not ready for yet. It is a balance between encouragement and patience. If you notice that your teen is not making progress, it might be time for professional help.
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that a combination of therapy and parent support often leads to the best results. We are here to provide that clinical expertise. Our team in Columbia, MD specializes in helping families navigate these challenges. We focus on practical solutions that work in real life.
Finding the Right Help in Maryland
If you are looking for support, Caritas Behavioral Health Services is ready to help. We understand that every teen is unique. Some might benefit from our telehealth evaluation services which are available to anyone in Maryland. This is a convenient way to get started from the comfort of your own home.
For those who prefer face to face interaction, our Columbia, MD office is open for in person treatments. We serve the local community and surrounding areas with professional care. Our clinical experts will work with you and your teen to create a path forward.
Managing anxiety in teens is a journey. There will be good days and harder days. The most important thing is that you are taking steps to help your child feel better. With the right coping plans and professional guidance, your teen can learn to manage their anxiety and live a full life.
Practical Steps to Start Today
You do not have to wait for an appointment to start helping. Here are a few simple things you can do right now.
Anxiety in Teens does not have to control your family life. By coaching parents and providing teens with the right tools, we can see real change. Reach out to us at Caritas Behavioral Health Services today to learn more about how we can support your journey toward wellness and balance.
