Medicine for teens with anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U. In a new National Institute of Mental Health-funded study, led by Strawn and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry , UC researchers took a first look at one particular medication for treatment of these disorders in pediatric patients to see if it was beneficial. Strawn says SSRIs work by increasing serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers that nerve cells use to communicate with one another. These medications block the reabsorption of serotonin into nerve cells, making more serotonin available to improve transmission of messages between neurons. Additionally, clinicians have limited data to help them to determine which patients will respond to what treatments.

Symptoms caused by major depression can vary from person to person. To clarify the type of depression your teen has, the doctor may use one or more specifiers, which means depression with specific features. Here are a few examples:. Several other disorders include depression as a symptom. An accurate diagnosis is the key to getting appropriate treatment. The doctor or mental health professional's evaluation will help determine if the symptoms of depression are caused by one of these conditions:. Our caring team of Mayo Clinic experts can help you with your teen depression-related health concerns Start Here.

Being a teenager can be stressful, both for kids and their parents. Many teenagers experience overwhelming anxiety and lack the tools to cope with it. Some adolescents worry intensely, struggle to sleep, obsess over the same negative thoughts, and have trouble socializing with others. They may even experience physical symptoms like nausea, fatigue, or muscle aches.

Those who live with anxiety every day know how important it is to get relief. Anxiety disorder is a life-altering condition, and one that makes everything you do a significantly less enjoyable. It is a condition that you need to treat. There are many different types of anxiety treatments from therapy to relaxation exercises to herbal supplements, and more.