Anxiety is a natural reaction to stressful situations. For some people, anxiety gets out of control, consuming most of their thoughts and limiting their quality of life. If your teen struggles with feelings of helplessness and worry, they may turn to self-medication, a process of using drugs or alcohol to control those negative feelings. Understanding where this anxiety comes from and what can be done about it enables recovery. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we can offer that support to you. To learn about our treatment programs, please contact our adolescent treatment center today at 866.300.5275.

Signs of Anxiety in Teen and Adolescent Men

Recognizing the signs of anxiety can help you to take appropriate action to help. Some of the most common signs of anxiety in young males include:

• Intense worrying
• Withdrawing from activities once enjoyed
• Fears that don’t seem rational or are exaggerated
• Intense negative thoughts or statements, especially about themselves
• Trouble focusing on tasks
• Changes in academic performance or personality

Another key to notice is self-medication. The use of drugs or alcohol may help some people to stop thinking and worrying. Substance use addiction like this can mask the symptoms of anxiety, making it hard for you to see what’s happening.

What Causes This Type of Anxiety?

Many factors cause anxiety. Sometimes this mental health disorder does not have a specific cause, or it may not be known. Often, in older teens and young male adults, changes in hormone levels can be a cause of anxiety. These changes can make them feel depressed or upset simply because of poor hormone regulation.

Other times, teens can develop anxiety from environmental exposures or intense experiences. Some examples of this may include:

• Negative thoughts and feelings about themselves developed as a result of bullying
• Past trauma experiences including watching a loved one die or some abuse.
• Chronic illness in the family
• Difficulty with relationships
• School demands especially for academic or sports performance
• Divorce or separation of parents

It may not be clear even to the individual why they feel the way they do in some situations. It may be a combination of factors that contribute to it as well.

Anxiety and Stress

For many, stress is a significant cause of anxiety. Most people face pressure daily, and sometimes that stress is significant. Yet, for many young males, that stress can be too much to manage. They may not have proper coping strategies to help them deal with financial or relationship stress. Because they cannot cope with or deal with it, that stress builds. Anxiety builds because they don’t have a way to find relief, and for some, aggression and fear increase. For others, drug and alcohol addiction becomes a tool to reduce stress. In all cases, learning how to manage stress productively can make all the difference in long-term health and recovery.

Find the Help Needed at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we provide a wide range of tools to help people learn to manage stress. We may provide medication, supportive talk therapy, and stress-reducing activities. With proper attention to a person’s individual needs, it’s possible to gain control over anxiety and limit exposure to its symptoms. This treatment is significant when drug use is occurring. If your son or loved one is struggling, reach out to us to learn more about our programs, including:

• Substance abuse treatment
• Co-occurring issues
• Trauma treatment programs
• Adolescent treatment programs
• Teen therapy programs

Anxiety can be controlled with the right support and guidance. If your loved one is struggling, reach out to our team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery to learn how we can help you, especially if substance use addiction is occurring. Call 866.300.5275 or connect with our professionals online today.