Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD

Taking a Summer Break from Anxiety for Teens with ADHD Summertime typically provides a much-needed break from the academic and social pressures of school for kids with ADHD. Elementary school kids can spend their summers involved in activities that play to their strengths and minimize their weaknesses. They have an opportunity to focus on making new summer friends, forming friendships that arent complicated by school anxiety and stress. In an ideal world, teenagers with ADHD also have the chance to take a real summer break from high school pressures. However, as competition for college admissions and career success grows, many high school students are increasingly encouraged to maximize their summer breaks by participating in experiences that will bolster their chances of getting into their preferred college. This often means seeking out competitive internships and participating in multiple sports or intense extracurricular activities, sometimes while also holding down a part-time job. Taking a break from the social pressure of high scho ol is also more challenging with social media playing such a prominent role in teenage social life. Teens continue to feel the pressure to keep up with their classmates, often comparing themselves to their peers and scanning Instagram posts to make sure theyre not missing out on (or being left out of) events and activities. This year-round pressure is just one of many factors that researchers and clinicians think may be driving the rise in anxiety among teenagers. A recently published article in the Journal of Developmental Pediatrics found that in the U.S. rates of anxiety disorder diagnoses increased 20% between 2007-2012.1 Many clinicians suspect that rates have increased even more rapidly between 2012 and 2018. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about one-third of todays adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime. Teens with ADHD are at even higher risk, with up to 50% experiencing significant anxiety. While some of the factors driving up teen anxiety are pervasive and cant be changed in a single summer, there are still many things parents can do to help their teens keep anxiety in check. Help your teen focus on experiences that are meaningful and personalized. Its smart to start thinking about college and career paths early on, and to use time away from school to build skills and experiences that bolster college and career success. But for teens with ADHD who have struggled to succeed in school, and whose self-confidence has eroded over time, focusing first and foremost on finding activities and internships that build confidence and self-esteem is important. Encourage your teen to think about the big picture and seek out experiences that tap into his or her strengths and minimize weaknesses. Ideally these experiences should be in areas that your teen is passionate about, where he or she can feel confident in his or her knowledge and abilities and be an equal or a leader among his or her peers. Encourage your teen to devote some time working on academic skills. A complete break from academics during the summer months can make it difficult for teens with ADHD to start the new school year off with confidence. So, while your teens activities and internships should play to his or her strengths, that doesnt mean your teen shouldnt spend any time building up weaker academic skills. The trick is to set your teen up for success by providing him or her with academic experiences that build confidence as well as skills. Working with learning professionals who provide personalized instruction tailored to your teens learning style and strengths is the most surefire path to academic confidence and success. Quality family time is important. Its normal and healthy for teens to prefer to spend time with friends rather than family. But, that doesnt mean that family time isnt important. In fact, family time can provide a healthy break from social pressure, and the anxiety that comes with it for many teens with ADHD. Schedule family activities that include a break from technology when teens (and their parents) dont check their social media accounts for extended stretches of time. The focus of this time should be on blocking outside distractions and spending quality time with each other. Activities that are naturally less compatible with cell phone use (like hiking, swimming, amusement parks, paintball, horseback riding, trampoline parks) will help make the technology breaks a little easier. Work with a therapist if your teen seems highly anxious or unmotivated. Finding time for therapy appointments can be hard during the school year. If you are worried about your teens level of anxiety, or if he or she seems to be constantly irritable or unmotivated, use the summer months to find a therapist who can meet with you and your teen to assess his or her mood and anxiety. Even a few appointments with a good therapist can make a big difference when it comes to treating anxiety and having a go-to therapist your teen can meet with if anxiety spikes in the fall can mean getting treatment more quickly when your teen needs it the most. ABOUT DR. MARY ROONEY Mary Rooney, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco. Dr Rooney is a researcher and clinician specializing in the evaluation and treatment of ADHD and co-occurring behavioral, anxiety, and mood disorders. A strong advocate for those with attention and behavior problems, Dr. Rooney is committed to developing and providing comprehensive, cutting edge treatments tailored to meet the unique needs of each child and adolescent. Dr. Rooney's clinical interventions and research avenues emphasize working closely with parents and teachers to create supportive, structured home and school environments that enable children and adolescents to reach their full potential. In addition, Dr. Rooney serves as a consultant and ADHD expert to Huntington Learning Centers. ABOUT HUNTINGTON Huntington Learning Center is the tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified tutors provide individualized instruction in reading, phonics, writing, study skills, elementary and middle school math, Algebra through Calculus, Chemistry, and other sciences. It preps for the SAT and ACT, as well as state and standardized exams. Huntington programs develop the skills, confidence, and motivation to help students of all levels succeed and meet the needs of Common Core State Standards. Founded in 1977, Huntington's mission is to give every student the best education possible. Call us today at 1.800.CAN LEARN to discuss how Huntington can help your child. For franchise opportunities please visit www.huntingtonfranchise.com. This website does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only.