Psychotherapist | Mental Health Expert | Founder at Uncover Mental Health Counseling
Answered 2 years ago
As a therapist specializing in working with teenagers, I've observed that social anxiety is a particularly common mental health condition among them. Many of the teens I see experienced significant social isolation during the pandemic, which has impacted their ability to develop and practice essential social skills. Prolonged periods of quarantine and lockdowns kept teenagers away from their peers and typical social environments. This extended isolation hindered their opportunities to practice and refine social skills, leading to increased feelings of awkwardness and apprehension when re-engaging with others. This period of isolation has made it challenging for them to navigate social interactions and build confidence in social settings.
Eating disorders, disordered eating, body image distress and low self-esteem. Teens are navigating a fully digital world. I have watched my teens decline in areas of confidence and self-worth. Often my teens are comparing themselves to influencers and other social media accounts. Sometimes they are actually viewing content that is encouraging comparison, dieting and eating disorder behaviors. It is so hard to regulate what is posted on the internet and teens are absorbing a lot of information daily. Social media creates a breeding ground for constant comparison and striving. Eating disorders have been on the rise as the pressure in our society to conform to the thin ideal has strengthened. We have seen the body inclusive and body positive movement lose traction in the past few years. This comparison leads to feeling like you are never enough. My teens seem to feel that they need to be perfect at everything they do and they need to post about it and get instant gratification that they are doing well. I hope for these teens that they can develop a stronger sense of self outside of the "noise" of social media. I work with my teens to identify their values and help them live a life that is more in alignment with those values. I also help my teens to reconnect with community offline and set boundaries with social media. Unfortunately social media is not going anywhere, but I hope we can be more discerning and work with teens to engage with social media in a more balanced way.
In our group practice that specializes working with teenagers, we see anxiety as our number 1 most prevalent issue in teens. Anxiety in teenagers can look like needing to be perfect, worried what others are thinking, comparing self to others, feeling glued to social media, stressed with high expectations, worried for the future, or experiencing intense loneliness.
As a psychologist who works with predominantly children and adolescents, I think it is important for the general public to understand that the vast majority of teens have had suicidal ideation. While far less have actual plans in place, nearly every teen I have come into contact with has experienced passive suicidal ideation, including wishing they wouldn't wake up one day or wanting to just not exist so they did not have to feel how they were feeling in that moment. While these are not situations where I would send a teen to the hospital, they do highlight an issue that is increasingly prevalent in teens: low levels of resiliency.
In teens, the most prevalent issues treated include anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD. Many teens struggle with social anxiety and performance pressure, often exacerbated by academic demands and social media. Depression is also common, sometimes linked to feelings of isolation or low self-esteem. ADHD is frequently addressed, as it impacts their ability to focus and succeed in school. These conditions often require a combination of therapy, lifestyle changes, and sometimes medication to manage effectively.
As a speaker focused on youth mental health, anxiety and depression are common issues I see in the teens I work with. Social media pressures and academic stress take a major toll. Over 71% of teens report anxiety from social media while 45% report it from school pressures. I've worked with teens who barely leave their rooms or interact with friends in person due to anxiety over how they'll appear on social media. Case management and family therapy help set healthy boundaries around technology use and build confidence from real social interaction. Depression is also widespread, with over 60% of teens reporting feeling sad or hopeless at some point. I teach coping strategies like exercise, creative pursuits and volunteering to help combat negative thought cycles. Sometimes medication and professional therapy are needed to fully address depression. The good news is awareness around teen mental health is growing. With the right support, whether through crisis hotlines, community organizations or professional therapists, teens can develop resilience and thrive. But we must make these resources easily available when teens need them most.
One of the most common issues I see in teens is the impact of social media on their self-esteem. Many teens spend hours scrolling through platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where they’re constantly bombarded with images of seemingly perfect lives, bodies, and achievements. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth, as they compare themselves to these idealized versions of reality. For example, a teen might see a peer’s perfectly curated photos and start to feel like they don’t measure up. They might worry that they’re not as attractive, popular, or successful as the people they follow online. Over time, this can lead to a negative self-image and even contribute to anxiety or depression. In therapy, I help teens understand that what they see on social media is often just a highlight reel, not the full picture. We work on building their self-esteem by focusing on their strengths and encouraging them to spend time offline, engaging in activities that make them feel good about themselves. By addressing the pressures of social media, we can help teens develop a healthier relationship with these platforms and, more importantly, with themselves.
This often presents itself as anxiety, depression, and stress due to academic and sometimes social or self-esteem pressures. Other common problems are ADHD, behavior issues, and problems with family conflicts or trauma. Many teenagers today are also struggling with the context of identity, issues related to gender and orientation. The effects of social media on mental health form a growing part of this, contributing to feelings of isolation, inadequacy, and cyberbullying, among many other topics with which therapists deal in their sessions.
In my experience working with teens, anxiety and depression are the most prevalent issues I encounter. The pressures of school, social media, and identity formation can be overwhelming, leading to feelings of isolation or helplessness. Another common issue is navigating family dynamics, especially during adolescence when teens seek more independence. Addressing these conditions often involves building coping skills, fostering self-esteem, and creating a safe space for teens to express themselves openly, which can be transformative in their journey toward mental wellness.
As a clinical social worker and therapist, the two issues I see most in the teens I treat through online therapy are anxiety and depression. Over 75% of my caseload consists of teens struggling with these conditions. For anxiety, social pressures are a major factor. Many teens I work with have difficulty leaving the house or interacting with peers in person due to anxiety over their image on social media. Through therapy, we focus on setting boundaries, building confidence in real relationships, and learning coping strategies. Depression is also extremely common, with over 65% of my teen clients reporting periods of hopelessness or sadness that interferes with their lives. I teach them how to combat negative thoughts through exercise, creative pursuits, volunteering, and mindfulness practices. Sometimes medication and intensive therapy are needed to fully address their depression. The good news is that with support, whether through crisis lines, community groups, or prifessional therapists like myself, teens can build resilience and thrive. But we must make mental health resources easily available to teens when they need them the most.