How Do I Talk To My Teen With Anxiety or OCD?

If your teen is acting differently than usual or you notice some signs of anxiety, the first step is to talk to them about it. Even if there isn’t anything going on, an open and non-judgemental conversation won’t do any harm and will only improve your relationship with your teen.

Be specific about what you’ve noticed and why you’re worried. For example, you might say: ‘You haven’t been seeing your friends recently. Is everything okay?’ Or: ‘I’ve noticed that you don’t seem to be sleeping well recently. Is there anything you want to chat about?’ or ‘I notice that you are excessively worried’ or ‘I notice that there are routines or habits that you must do.’

When talking to your teenager, try to:

• Empathize and acknowledge their feelings. Teens often don’t speak out about their worries because they’re afraid that people won’t take them seriously. For a teenager experiencing anxiety, it’s especially important that they feel you’re taking them seriously and are there to support them. It’s normal for a young person to be focused on social relationships. Some worries may sound minor or illogical to adults; however, it’s important to show that you ‘get’ them, by acknowledging their concerns. You could say: ‘It sounds like you’re feeling really worried about this.’
• Listen and relate. If your child wants advice, they’ll ask for it. Otherwise, they just want to know that you’re there for them. Listen to what they’re saying and share your own experiences to show that what they’re going through isn’t anything to be ashamed of.
• Check in regularly. Keeping the communication lines open, even if your teenager doesn’t want to chat right now, tells them that if anything happens and they need you, you’ll be there for them.