Anxiety and Depression in Teens

Everyone feels worried, sad or cranky sometimes. That is part of being human, and the teen years bring plenty of reasons: tests, friendships, family changes, social media and big questions about the future. But for some teens, those feelings do not pass. They stick around for weeks, get stronger and start getting in the way of school, sleep and friendships. That may be anxiety or depression.

These are the two most common mental health conditions in young people, and both are very treatable.¹ This page explains how to spot the signs, why they happen and what helps, for teens and for the adults who care about them.

What it looks like

Anxiety

Anxiety is the body's alarm system. It is meant to protect you from danger. With an anxiety disorder, the alarm goes off too often or too strongly, even when there is no real threat. Signs can include:

• Worry that is hard to control, about school, health, family or the future
• Fear of being judged or embarrassed, so you avoid speaking in class, eating in front of others or going to parties
• Racing heart, tight chest, shaky hands, stomachaches or headaches, especially before school
• Trouble falling asleep because your mind will not slow down
• Avoiding places or activities, which can make fear grow over time
• Sudden waves of intense fear with strong body symptoms, called panic attacks

See social anxiety and generalized anxiety for more.

Depression

Depression is more than a bad day or a sad week. In teens it can look like:⁴

• Feeling sad, empty, worthless or anxious much of the time
• Being irritable or angry, which is very common in teens and is sometimes mistaken for "attitude"
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
• Pulling away from friends and family
• Grades dropping, or trouble focusing and remembering
• Sleeping much more or much less, eating more or less, and feeling tired all the time
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Depression looks different in different people. Some teens have many signs, others only a few.⁴ See signs and symptoms of depression.

How common is it?

Around the world, about 1 in 7 people aged 10 to 19 (14.3%) has a mental health condition. Anxiety disorders affect about 5% of older teens, and depression about 3%.¹

In the US, CDC's 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students found:^2,3

That is real progress. But in 2025, 43% of girls felt persistently sad or hopeless, compared with 24% of boys, and rates are still higher than in 2015.²

Why it happens

There is no single cause. Anxiety and depression usually come from a mix of things:

• Family history and biology. These conditions can run in families.
• A changing body and brain. Teens' bodies and brains are still growing, which can bring self-consciousness and fast-changing emotions.
• Stress. School pressure, family conflict, money worries, moving, loss or trauma. See our guide on school and exam stress.
• Bullying and feeling left out. See bullying and belonging.
• Sleep loss. Only about 1 in 4 US high schoolers gets 8 or more hours on school nights.³ See our guide on teen sleep.
• Heavy social media use. Teens who use social media more than 3 hours a day face about double the risk of depression and anxiety symptoms.⁹ See social media and screens.
• Substances. Nicotine, alcohol and cannabis can make mood and anxiety worse. See vaping, alcohol and drugs.

How it affects daily life

Untreated anxiety and depression can make it hard to go to school, keep up grades, enjoy friends or sleep well. Avoidance can shrink a teen's world over time. Depression can also bring thoughts of self-harm or suicide.⁴ The good news: earlier treatment is generally more effective and can prevent more serious, lasting problems.⁵

What helps

The badges show how strong the research is (see how we rate evidence).

Steps you can take this week

1. Name it. Write down what you feel, when it started and how often. Knowing "I've felt this way most days for a month" helps a doctor or counselor help you.
2. Tell one person. A parent, school counselor, coach, teacher or doctor. NIMH suggests talking to a trusted adult if you have felt sad most of the time for a few weeks.⁴
3. Move a little every day. A 10-minute walk counts.⁴
4. Protect your sleep. Keep the same wake-up time, and charge your phone outside your bedroom.
5. Do one small thing you used to enjoy, even if you do not feel like it. Mood often follows action. Our Activity Garden can help you plan.
6. Face one small fear. If anxiety makes you avoid something, take one tiny step toward it, like sending one text or asking one question in class.
7. Catch harsh thoughts. Try our Thought Check or Thought Detective.

For parents and friends

Parents: Irritability, withdrawal and slipping grades can be signs of depression, not just teenage mood. Contact a health professional if changes in mood or behavior last weeks or months and get in the way of home, school or friends.⁵ US experts recommend that all teens aged 12 to 18 be screened for depression at checkups, so ask your pediatrician about it.⁶

Teens who feel connected at school and whose parents usually know where they are and who they are with report much less sadness and suicide risk.⁸ Stay involved without hovering. Talk side by side, in the car or on a walk. Listen more than you fix. See our guide for parents.

Friends: You do not have to be a therapist. Say what you have noticed: "You seem really down lately. Want to talk?" Listen without judging. Encourage your friend to tell an adult, and offer to go with them. If your friend mentions self-harm or suicide, tell a trusted adult right away, even if they asked you to keep it secret. See helping someone with depression.

Special situations

• Girls report persistent sadness and poor mental health far more often than boys.²
• Boys may show depression as anger, risk-taking or substance use rather than sadness. See depression in men.
• LGBQ+ teens report much more persistent sadness. In CDC's 2023 survey, about 2 in 3 LGBQ+ students (66%) felt this way, compared with about 1 in 3 heterosexual students (31%).⁸ Accepting friends and adults make a big difference. See belonging.
• Eating problems often come with anxiety and depression. See body image and eating.

Common questions

How do I know if it is depression or just a bad week?

Look at how long and how much. A bad week passes. Depression lasts most of the day, most days, for weeks, and it gets in the way of school, sleep or friendships.^4,5

Will I have to take medicine?

Not always. Talk therapy alone helps many teens. Medicine is one option a doctor may suggest, often together with therapy.^6,7 You and your family get a say.

Will my parents find out what I tell a counselor?

School counselors and doctors usually keep what you say private. The main exception is if they believe you or someone else is in danger. Ask about privacy rules at your first visit.

Can anxiety and depression happen at the same time?

Yes, they often do. The same treatments, like CBT, can help with both.

Want to learn more? Try our anxiety quiz or depression myths vs facts quiz. More teen topics are on the teens hub.

When to get help

Talk to a parent, counselor or doctor if:

• Sadness, worry, irritability or loss of interest lasts most days for a few weeks or more⁴
• Anxiety keeps you from going to school, seeing friends or doing things you need to do
• You have trouble sleeping, eating or focusing for weeks
• You are using alcohol, vaping or drugs to cope

Education only. This page is general information written from the sources listed. It is not medical, legal or financial advice and does not replace a doctor, therapist or lawyer who knows your situation. How we write and check pages.