With daily stressors such as school, jobs, or even college admissions, it’s no wonder why there has been an increase in stress and anxiety disorders in teenagers.
According to a CDC report, a combined 20 million children between the ages of 3 and 17 were diagnosed with either ADHD, anxiety, depression or a behavioral disorder between 2016 and 2019. Anxiety accounts for 9.4% (approximately 5.8 million), which has only increased post-pandemic.
Related: Comforting and Stress-Reducing Gifts to Help Your Anxious Teen
What is causing all this anxiety and stress in our teens?
There are a number of contributing factors:
- Academic pressure and unrealistic expectations on achievement
- Social media and the pressure for perfection
- Inundation of bad news pushed through their screens
- Political strife and world events
- Constant worry about the safety of friends and family
- Increased level of trauma and unstable home environments
As a teenage anxiety sufferer myself, I’ve learned that the issue isn’t actually being stuck in your own worry but convincing yourself there is no way to escape the pit of anxiousness.
Sometimes an inspirational quote can get us out of our heads and remind us of what’s important. They can send you in new directions by presenting the ideas and learnings of others. They can help you get unstuck.
The quotes below resonated with me as a reminder that the rainbow shines after the thunderstorm for a reason. I hope you enjoy these quotes as much as I do, and use them as a rope when your teen falls down the hole.
Inspiring quotes for anxious teens
Quotes for living with anxiety
If anxiety is interrupting your normal life, it might be time to talk to a professional. Otherwise, developing a series of coping mechanisms can help, including having a reference of quotes you can use to get you through some tough times.
“Anxiety’s like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you very far.” -Jodi Picoult, “Sing You Home”
“Anxiety is a lot like a toddler. It never stops talking, tells you you’re wrong about everything, and wakes you up at 3 a.m.” -Anonymous
“Our anxiety does not come from thinking about the future, but from wanting to control it.” -Kahlil Gibran
“Worrying about outcomes over which I have no control is punishing myself before the universe has decided I ought to be punished.” -Sherry Thomas
“Anxiety is love’s greatest killer. It makes others feel as you might when a drowning man holds on to you. You want to save him, but you know he will strangle you with his panic.” -Anais Nin
“Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow.” -Swedish Proverb
Quotes for encouraging anxious teens
Encourage your teen to talk about anxieties. Just talking about the things that make them anxious can reduce the amount of anxiety they feel.
“Smile, breathe, and go slowly.” –Thich Nhat Hanh
“At the end of the day, tell yourself gently; ‘I love you, you did the best you could today, and even if you didn’t accomplish all you had planned, I love you anyway.” -Anonymous
“Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than defending or hanging on.” -Eckhart Tolle
“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” -Lily Tomlin
“I just give myself permission to suck. I find this hugely liberating.” -John Green
“Don’t settle: Don’t finish crappy books. If you don’t like the menu, leave the restaurant. If you’re not on the right path, get off it.” – Chris Brogan
“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” -Chinese Proverb
“You don’t drown by falling into water. You only drown if you stay there.” -Zig Ziglar
“Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering.” -A.A. Milne
“The best thing one can do when it is raining, is to let it rain.” -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” -Lao Tzu
Hopeful quotes for anxious teens
Hope is an important part of managing and recovering from anxiety disorders. In fact, “… recovery during CBT among the diverse clinical presentations, hope was a common element and a strong predictor of recovery,” said Matthew Gallagher, who reports that moderate-to-large increases in hope and changes in hope were consistent across the five separate CBT treatment protocols.
We loved these hope-filled quotes to help teens get through difficult times.
“Just because I can’t explain the feelings causing my anxiety doesn’t make them less valid.” -Lauren Elizabeth
“Just when the caterpillar thought the world was ending, she became a butterfly.” -Barbra Haines Howett
“I promise you nothing is as chaotic as it seems. Nothing is worth diminishing your health. Nothing is worth poisoning yourself into stress, anxiety, and fear.” -Steve Maraboli
“It’s OKAY to be scared. Being scared means you’re about to do something really, really brave.” -Mandy Hale
Related: This Simple Analogy Can Help When Your Teen Doesn’t Feel “Good Enough”
“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” -Mother Teresa
“You can’t go back and make a new start, but you can start right now and make a brand new ending.” -James R. Sherman
“Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry.” -Anonymous
“Maybe you have to know the darkness before you can appreciate the light.” -Madeleine L’Engle
Raising teens and tweens is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone. Here are some posts other parents found helpful.
How To Have A More Peaceful Relationship With Your Teen ; Guaranteed
Signs Of Teenage Depression And How To Help
Dear Teen Who Struggles with Anxiety
5 Ways To Prevent High School Burnout
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