It's 1:15 AM and Morgan can't sleep because she's worried about the math test
she has in the morning. Actually, it seems like she worries about almost
everything these days. What if she oversleeps and misses the bus? Did she
remember to put pads in her bag in case she gets her period tomorrow? Why hadn't
Maya called her back tonight? How will she work at the store all day Saturday
and still have time to write the paper that's due on Monday? It's another 45
minutes before Morgan is finally able to drift off.
It's completely normal to worry about your hectic, complicated life, but if
the worries become overwhelming, you may feel that they're running your
life. If you spend an excessive amount of time feeling anxious or you have
difficulty sleeping because of your anxiety, pay attention to your thoughts and
feelings. They may be symptoms of an anxiety problem or disorder.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural part of life, and most of
us experience it from time to time. The word "anxiety" usually refers to worry,
concern, stress, or nervousness.
For most teens, anxiety is limited to particular situations such as tests,
important dates (like the prom), or
driving lessons.
Feeling anxious can sometimes be a good thing. Anxiety can actually help you
by motivating you to prepare for a big test or by keeping you on your toes in
potentially dangerous situations. Occasional anxiety isn't something to be
concerned about.
But for some teens, anxiety is a constant factor in their lives. When a
person has an anxiety disorder, it interferes with their ability to function
normally on a daily basis. Anxiety disorders can cause teens to suffer from
intense, long-lasting fear or worry, in addition to other symptoms.
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