How to Support a Teenager with Anxiety: 6 Things That Actually Help

If your child struggles with anxiety, you are not alone and you are not powerless.In this episode, I share six practical ways to support your teenager with anxiety from the home front. I draw on what I learned the hard way as a parent, and what I brought into my classroom inside a youth psychiatric unit. This is not about being perfect. It is about showing up with the tools that actually work.In this episode:· Why validating your child's anxiety matters more than understanding it· How to create a calm, safe home that actually reduces anxious responses· The questions I wish I had asked my own daughter· When to seek professional support and how to make the most of it as a parent· The three words I used every day in the psychiatric unit that can change everything for your childWhen you show up with patience, presence, and a willingness to learn, your child does not just feel supported. They feel safe with you.TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Where to start1:00 Way 1: Validate their anxiety2:00 What I got wrong with my daughter3:00 Way 2: Creating a safe home4:00 Why your tone of voice matters5:00 When kids don't feel safe at home6:00 Way 3: Be a learner7:00 Helping your child through anxious thoughts8:00 Exposure therapy explained9:00 Way 4: Ask better questions10:00 Way 5: Seek professional support11:00 Medication as one tool12:00 Way 6: Learn and relearn patience13:00 Allowing time for the process14:00 Good enough parenting is enough15:00 In this moment - three words that change everything16:00 ClosingFind my interview playlist on YouTube Dr Suzanne Simpson, at Get On Their Turf:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC8JprFdrPA&list=PLi7xFsX7h7tdxBsVx38UIRVrvnCc_9IBWNew releases every second Monday 8:00 am PST.👉 Get the free guide "8 Ways to Get on Your Kids' Turf" at www.drsuzannesimpson.comConnect with me: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuzannesimpson/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drsuzannesimpson/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drsuzannesimpson Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566148964209Please note that the contents of this website are not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. My scope of practice is as an educator, and this work is intended to provide information for educational purposes only. Testimonials of lived experiences are opinion only and have not been scientifically evaluated.