By Dr. Ananya Singh · 6 min read
Adolescent anxiety has been on a steady rise — and the most common question we hear from parents is some flavor of “How do I bring it up without making it worse?” The short answer: low-key, often, and never as a one-shot conversation.
What works
- Side-by-side beats face-to-face — driving, walking, doing dishes.
- Ask open questions: “What’s been on your mind lately?” not “Are you anxious?”
- Listen for 2x as long as you talk. Resist solving.
- Validate first. (“That sounds really hard.”) Solutions can wait.
- Share your own experience sparingly — it can help, but don’t make it about you.
When to call us
Trouble with school, sleep, friendships, or appetite for more than two weeks; physical symptoms (headaches, stomachaches) without a clear cause; or any mention of self-harm or hopelessness — these are good reasons to bring them in.