In the previous blog, you learned how the cycle of anxiety works and how to recognize it when it shows up in your life. Now it’s important to build insight and skills to break the cycle by doing something different than what anxiety wants you to do…

Anxiety often feels overpowering, for the person who experiences it and for the parent who witnesses their teen or young adult struggle. 

As a parent, it can feel confusing — even jarring — to watch your sweet, snuggly child suddenly morph into someone who seems to roll their eyes at everything you say.

They slam doors. They cry harder than you expect over things that seem small. They question every rule. They want space. Lots of it.

There’s a moment that hits harder than you expect.

The moment your child stops asking for hugs.

The moment the jokes get an eye roll instead of a laugh.

The moment you feel like you’re tiptoeing just to keep the peace.

It’s not that you’re afraid of your teen.

Ever wish your teen came with a color-coded mood ring to warn you before you walked into a storm?

One minute they’re joking around, the next they’re slamming the door. Mood swings in teenagers can feel intense, unpredictable, and hard to keep up with—but they’re also a normal part of adolescent development

When your teen pushes back, shuts down, or explodes, it’s easy to feel like your only options are to come down hard or back off completely.

You try setting limits, and it creates more conflict.
You try being understanding, and it feels like you’re being walked on.

When your teen is emotional, overwhelmed, or acting out, it can feel like you're walking on eggshells or stuck in the same frustrating conversations over and over again.

You want to help. You want to understand. But what starts as a check-in often turns into a vent session that leaves you both feeling worse.

When your teen comes to you with a problem—whether it's a bad grade, friend drama, or a missed opportunity—your instinct might be to help by offering a solution.