School avoidance, repeated reassurance seeking, perfectionism, stomach aches, and social withdrawal can have different causes. Ask what the young person expects will happen and what they do to feel safer. A physical-health assessment may be needed for persistent bodily symptoms.

Anxiety can coexist with depression, learning difficulties, neurodevelopmental differences, or actual problems such as bullying. An effective plan should distinguish feared danger from a setting that genuinely needs to change. Not every difficulty is solved by encouraging a teen to push through.

Build manageable practice rather than endless reassurance

Reassurance can be comforting, but repeatedly proving that nothing bad will happen may leave a young person needing more certainty each time. CBT-based work can help them examine predictions and practise approaching safe but difficult situations gradually.

The steps should be agreed, developmentally appropriate, and connected to a meaningful goal. Success may initially mean staying in a situation briefly or trying despite discomfort. It does not require the anxiety to disappear before the teen participates.

Give caregivers a supportive role

Parents can validate that a situation feels hard while expressing confidence that the teen can take a supported step. The plan should clarify when to help, when to encourage practice, and when to seek additional assessment.

Treatment may involve psychotherapy and, when appropriate, medication prescribed by a qualified clinician. School collaboration can also help. The teen should understand who is involved and what information is shared, with consent and privacy arrangements explained.

Evidence and guidance: Canadian Paediatric Society: managing anxiety in children and youth.