Adolescent Anxiety and Brain Development.
Sadly, due to the impact of the Covid 19 Pandemic, social isolation and the restrictions that have come with it, anxiety is on the rise. My Counselling and Psychotherapy practice has seen a huge increase in referrals for help with anxiety in both adults and particularly, teenagers. So one of the most frequent questions I get asked by parents is, " How can I help my teenager with anxiety?" Studies on the teenage brain are increasingly revealing why anxiety is heightened during adolescence. Scientists have focused on the connection between the brain's Limbic System, particularly the Amygdala and the Prefrontal Cortex. These connections are essential for regulating emotions. The Amygdala and Prefrontal Cortex connections are slow to develop during adolescence. This means that connections in the brain that help to regulate emotions are in flux during this development period, making the adolescent particularly vulnerable to anxiety and stress. Alongside the s