Leading Families Away From Anxiety
by Karin Sasser

You don’t have to have worked as a youth leader for very long to discern that anxiety is prevalent among adolescents today. As a matter of fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 31.9% of adolescents have an anxiety disorder. That’s nearly one in three teens. Even teens who do not have a diagnosed disorder still struggle with feelings of anxiousness, stress, and being overwhelmed from time to time. As we attempt to lead and influence teens and families in our churches, we feel this anxiety flowing out of them. While living with stress and anxiety is a reality for many of the students (and parents) we work with, we know this is not how God wants them to experience life. Jesus promised us His peace, and Paul tells us we have access to a peace that transcends understanding. So, how can we help parents help their teens experience this promised peace?

The first step may be helping parents understand how the pressures and stressors their teens face are different from when they were growing up. The world is a different place than it was decades ago, and parents often have a hard time seeing the depth of that truth. Because of the cultural and societal pressures we all face, the prevalence of anxiety disorders are on the rise. Some parents are still unaware of the immense impact of social media on their teens and the amount of time their children really are on a screen. A website sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics shares: “Recent Common Sense Media research shows that media use by tweens (ages 8–12 years) and teens (ages 13–18 years) rose faster in the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic than the four years before. The research found 8- to 12-year-olds spend an average of five and a half hours a day on screens and consuming media. That rate climbs to over eight and a half hours a day for teens.” (Check out the rest of the article here: (https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/adverse-effects-of-television-commercials.aspx). 

The rise in the use of social media has been a major contributor to teen anxiety and mental health. Healthychildren.org also has articles on helping kids and families develop healthy habits when it comes to technology. These websites (and others) may be good resources to share with your parents to help them see the scope of the issues their teens are facing. We would also suggest that you have other resources on hand from both within your church and in your community that can benefit a student or parent who may need extra or professional help.

There are many aspects of a teen’s life that parents ultimately have little control over, but one area they can control is the tone of their home. As parents seek to help alleviate their teen’s anxiety, encourage them to evaluate the mood of their home and what role they may be playing in it. Our pastor often challenges us to understand that we can be in one of two camps – we can either be contributing to the chaos or contributing to the healing. The world of adolescence can be incredibly chaotic, and parents can play a role in either adding to the chaos or working towards promoting peace and healing in their homes. Parents may want to actually reduce the pressure at home when it comes to academics and athletics. When teens feel pressure to perform coming from their parents, it can often ramp up their stress and anxiety to an unhealthy level. Encourage parents to invite their kids to share what causes them stress or anxiety and ask how they can help. 

Finally, we know that Jesus is the ultimate source of our peace. The only way to experience the peace He promises us is to receive it. The best way to receive it is by abiding in Christ. Take time and space to reassure parents and remind them that, while they cannot control everything their teen experiences and cannot solve all their teenager’s problems, they do have a Savior who uses all things for good and offers peace. Encourage parents to help their kids truly focus on walking with God and suggest they help their teens make time and space to spend with Jesus. If faith is at the forefront of family life, parents will be more able to navigate their own anxiety as they seek to help their teens develop a life of freedom and peace.