Are we raising ANXIOUS kids?

I had dinner with my parents tonight and, as always, am reminded of why I love living 20 minutes away from them. My kids love their “Grammie” and “Grandpa” and I love the adult relationship that I’ve be able to develop with them. Tonight my Dad told me about the article I’m discussing and sharing below. Thank you, Pop!

If you asked me to highlight my favorite parts of this article, this blog post would be deliriously long. The article is that good. Yes, it’s long but I encourage you to read it in entirety if you are concerned about raising capable and resilient little people. 😊

The author (Benoit Denzet-Lewis) is posing the questions “Why are our teenagers suffering more anxiety?” He presents several actual case studies as well as researchers in the field. He attests that “Anxiety is the most common mental-health disorder in the United States, affecting nearly one-third of both adolescents and adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. But unlike depression, with which it routinely occurs, anxiety is often seen as a less serious problem” (Benoit Denzet-Lewis). 

Denzet-Lewis goes on to present research from Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, who researches adolescent mental health, that finds “(that) the use of social media and smartphones look culpable for the increase in teen mental-health issues.” This is bold and forward thinking that has been looked at some but needs more research.

Denzet-Lewis goes on to look at what happens when we as parents, as well as our education system, lower possible stress/anxiety producing situations and how that directly correlates to lowered teen ‘resiliency.’ One mom in the piece made the poignant comment, “The million-dollar question of raising an anxious child is: When is pushing her going to help because she has to face her fears, and when is it going to make the situation worse and she’s going to have a panic attack?”

Overall the article raises multiple good points and continues to look at the connection between increased technology usage and depression/anxiety. As a parent of a teenager who has no social media I know that the battle is hard. I never place judgement on any decision another parent makes, parenting is hard enough without us judging one another. I do know, though, that our teen’s life is better off on a daily basis because she is free from the pull of social media. She’ll thank us one day, or not. 😊

Be well!

Sarah 

Enjoy the article:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/magazine/why-are-more-american-teenagers-than-ever-suffering-from-severe-anxiety.html

If you are in crisis please call 911.

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