Ep. 14: How to Help My Anxious Teen- 5 Steps Every Parent Needs to Know

In today’s episode, I’m diving into something so many of us are navigating right now: teen anxiety - why it happens, why it feels so overwhelming, and how to help your anxious teen feel calmer, more confident, and less alone.As both a parent and a youth coach, I break down what’s happening in your teen’s body and brain, why anxiety shows up the way it does, and the compassionate strategies that actually help—rather than the ones that backfire.If you’ve been asking, “How do I help my anxious teen?” this episode gives you clarity, relief, and practical tools you can use right away.What We Cover:What anxiety really is (and why reasoning doesn’t work)The difference between typical worry and more concerning teen anxiety symptomsHow the teen brain increases sensitivity and overwhelmPandemic impacts on social skills and confidenceWhy marginalized teens (LGBTQ+, BIPOC) experience higher anxietyFour grounding truths every parent should understand5 steps to support your anxious teen:Open communicationChallenging catastrophic thoughtsNervous system toolsEnding the over-rescue cycleHealthy tech & sleep boundariesSimple scripts you can use during anxious momentsHow small, supported steps help teens rebuild confidenceWhether your teen is avoiding school, withdrawing socially, or overwhelmed with “what if” thinking, this episode gives you tools to bring more calm, connection, and hope into your home.Grab My Free GuideDownload Five Steps to Help Your Teen Minimize and Manage Their Anxiety, or DM me ANXIETY on Instagram and I’ll send it right to you.Connect on InstagramDaily tools + support for parents and teens: @jasmyne.guidedpassagesSources MentionedCDC: Children’s Mental Health Data & StatisticsThe Trevor Project: 2024 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental HealthJonathan Haidt: The Anxious Generation (2024)Monitoring the Future Study (University of Michigan/NIDA)Jean Twenge et al., global internalizing disorder research (post-2012)Nature Human Behaviour: Increases in global adolescent loneliness & distressLisa Damour: Under Pressure (2019)CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance + APA/Child Mind Institute reports on post-pandemic anxiety