Member-only story
By Victoria Purcell
Anxiety disorder is the most common mental health concern amongst teens, especially in teen girls. Up to 1 in 4 youth are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. Moreover, girls are three times more likely to have an anxiety diagnosis than boys.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is our body’s natural response to stress. It results in the feeling of fear or apprehension about the future. It’s very common to experience anxiety before an interview, presenting in front of a crowd, or taking a test. Although it causes discomfort, anxiety may be a motivator to work harder. Regular anxiety should come and go and shouldn’t interfere with day-to-day life.
Although anxiety itself is not unusual, anxiety that is excessive, uncontrollable, and related to distress is considered unhealthy and may be a sign of anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorder as a gateway to other mental health disorders
Anxiety is a gateway disorder and never goes away on its own. Those that have unhealthy anxiety early on tend to experience chronic anxiety throughout their development and experience a wide range of adverse outcomes.
- 60 to 90% of those with an anxiety disorder will go on to developing an additional disorder
