What are the jobs for teens with anxiety?

Problems are a part of every individual’s life, which is usually accompanied by some common emotions like confusion, feeling at the edge, a sense of helplessness, and recurrent negative thoughts which can collectively be seen as an individual experiencing what’s commonly called Anxiety. 

Every human has their unique ways of dealing with these difficult situations and the following emotions, some try to adapt to the circumstances and find the best and most comfortable solution while others try to find an escape route for the same, in both cases the main aim is usually to get over the uncomfortable emotions of anxiety. 

Anxiety majorly affects a person’s ability to get a job and maintain optimal performance in one’s job. People with anxiety experience a lot of problems in their occupational life.

However teens with anxiety try to search for jobs, they must keep in mind that avoiding interaction and anxiety completely is not possible. They must mentally prepare themselves to face and manage their anxieties.

Some jobs for teens with anxiety are:

1.   Restaurant staff

Teenagers with anxiety can work as restaurant staff. Many restaurants hire workers to clear out and wash dishes or even prepare food. These jobs help the teenagers to stay in the kitchen Without having to interact and face and anticipate triggering situations.

Food preparation, dishwashing does involve some amount of interaction with a coworker but wouldn’t require teenagers to handle customers or their complaints which might trigger anxiety. To avoid any confusion with the role provided at the restaurant the teenagers should check for the job description before applying for it.

2.   Stocker

As a stocker, a teenager is responsible for arranging all the products and getting the merchandise ready for sale along with help in its display. other duties of a stocker might include doing an inventory of products and helping with cleaning the store.

Many stocker positions prefer high school diplomas and require an individual to be at least 18 years of age.

3.   Cleaner

Many laundry and cleaning services prefer teenagers though some companies might have a minimum requirement of a candidate being 18 years old.

As a cleaner a teenager might have to work washing windows, cleaning bathrooms, dusting, sweeping, mopping, collecting, and washing towels or linens.

If a teenager is comfortable with carrying out these duties, they can consider a cleaner job as it requires much less interaction with other people.

4.   Tutor

Another job for teenagers with social anxiety could be tutoring. Many children require distance studying. here the teenager might be required to teach students over an online medium a subject that they excel in, and a student has a demand for.

Considering the nature of the job and duties of the teenager as a tutor that is very little scope for humiliation or rejection which might trigger anxiety.

Many tutoring companies require you to be at least 18, but some do hire teenagers if you’re old enough to work and have the necessary skills.

5.   Kennel assistant

Teenagers who feel calm around animals and work with pets as kennel assistants or attended can consider a similar job profile.

Kennel assistants work at veterinary clinics, animal shelters and carry out duties such as helping bathe the pets, working and playing with their pets, feeding, and providing pets with water, cleaning cages.

Working at the kennel or shelter can also offer teenagers a future career as a vet or a pet groomer.

6.   Library page

As a library page, a teenager will spend most of their time working independently in the library shelf books and shelf reading to help keep books and other materials where they belong.

Other responsibilities might include checking books, helping prepare the librarian for storytime and other events.

working as a  page might be a great fit for those teenagers who are looking for a job that requires very little interaction with other people.

 

7.   Childcare assistant

Childcare jobs may involve some amount of interaction with the parents but often teenagers with more training and experience speak to the parents only when required.

8.   Warehouse associate

Warehouse associates spend most of their time working independently and carrying out duties such as placing boxes, performing quality control, and moving products.

9.   Work with a friend

Teenagers with anxiety can also consider starting up a business with their friends. Having the support of someone that they trust can make it easier for them to get comfortable interacting with strangers in new setups.

What are the signs and symptoms of anxiety experienced by teens? 

Anxiety is characterized by a set of signs and symptoms such as:

 

• Sweating
• Difficulty in breathing
• Shortness of breath
• Sense of choking
• Complaints of chest pain
• Shaking or trembling
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness or Lightheadedness
• Fear of losing control over oneself and their environment
• Fear of impending doom
• Hot or cold flashes
• Tingling or numbness
• Increased heart rate

These symptoms vary in severity from person to person. However, it is noted that many people experience anxiety attacks that are not significantly displayed.

What are the main triggers of anxiety for teens?

Even though anxiety is seen among many individuals, certain triggers make some people more vulnerable to anxiety than others. Some contributing triggers of anxiety are:

Health diagnosis

An individual is more vulnerable to experiencing anxiety in the presence of chronic or serious health diagnoses such as cancer or diabetes.

Triggers associated with health diagnosis tend to have a strong impact on an individual because of the strong negative thoughts and emotions that are associated with it.

Medications

It is believed that many over-the-counter medications may contribute to the symptoms of anxiety in some individuals. This is certainly because of the ingredients in this medication that makes an individual feel uneasy.

Use of caffeine

Even though it is said that the use of caffeine helps to activate an individual’s system, studies show that over-usage of caffeine might lead to adverse effects such as anxiety or even depression.

Apart from the overuse withdrawal from caffeine may also lead to anxiety. hence it is suggested that individuals take conscious amounts of caffeine per day.

Skipping meals

Apart from environmental factors ones eating habits might also contribute to an individual’s anxiety directly or indirectly. When an individual fails to maintain their food timings it might lead to fluctuations in their blood sugar levels.

These fluctuations might make an individual feel jittery which in turn triggers anxiety.

Hence maintaining a proper schedule and diet is important for various reasons not just for energy but also for maintaining one’s mood.

Negative thinking

An individual’s behavior and emotions are certainly controlled by one’s thoughts. When an individual is upset and dwells on negative thoughts it further leads to discomforting emotions and detrimental thoughts causing a vicious cycle.

These negative thoughts are then projected to various areas of an individual’s life creating an overall sense of lack of control over oneself and the environment which triggers anxiety.

Financial concerns

Many individuals experience anxiety due to their financial standing. Learning to manage financial triggers requires seeking professional help such as from a financial advisor.

Stress

Daily stressors as simple as traffic jams to major ones such as strained relationships might contribute to one’s intensity and frequency of anxiety and anxiety attacks.

However long term or chronic stress leads to long term anxiety and a build-up of negative taught processes and emotions that impact an individual’s mental health

 

Conflict

individuals might also experience anxiety as a result of interpersonal or intrapersonal conflicts.

The inability to resolve these conflicts might lead to the buildup of negative thoughts, emotions that overwhelm an individual and trigger anxiety.

Personal triggers

Personal triggers can be as minor as a smell, place, or even a song that reminds an individual of negative and discomforting experiences. Personal triggers can remind an individual of an unconscious or conscious dramatic event in an individual’s life that triggers their anxiety.

If you can identify and understand your triggers, you can work to avoid them and learn to cope with them. You can learn specific coping strategies to handle the triggers when they happen.

Side Note: I have tried and tested various products and services to help with my anxiety and depression. See my top recommendations here, as well as a full list of all products and services our team has tested for various mental health conditions and general wellness.

What are some ways to manage anxiety experienced by teens?

Identify and acknowledge the triggers

The most significant strategy that can be used to control one’s anxiety is by identifying and acknowledging those triggers.

Being able to recognize what makes an individual anxious makes them better equipped to take action.

Relaxation techniques

 

Even though anxiety can be bought under an individual’s control it cannot be predicted. In such situations, it is necessary that an individual actively carries out relaxation techniques.

These might include meditation, yoga, and deep breathing which helps to reduce the intensity of anxiety within a short period.

Socialization

 

A key to reducing the frequency and intensity of anxiety attacks could be spending time with close family and friends.

The kind of emotional and practical support provided by these social and personal groups help the person feel connected and aid in distracting one’s mind from negative and recurring thoughts that lead to anxiety.

Apart from friends and families, individuals can also consider speaking to groups of people that are experiencing similar problems.

Set realistic goals

When an individual is feeling overwhelmed setting goals and targets keeping in mind priorities can help resolve overwhelming feelings of fear or panic.

Setting goals provides structure and routine to an individual’s life reducing space for uncertainty which can be a major trigger for anxiety in many cases.

Take up new challenges

Apart from doing activities that an individual is usually fond of and has expertise in, trying new and challenging activities that put an individual outside their comfort zone in a healthy manner may help reduce the stress and anger temporarily.

Signing up for new activities also provides a path to meeting people with similar stories and concerns.

Lifestyle changes

An individual’s lifestyle plays a major role in their experience of anxiety. An unhealthy and busy lifestyle usually leads to unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, lack of adequate sleep.

A combination of a well-set diet, exercise, and sleep can help to regulate an individual’s mood and equip them with a favorable coping mechanism.

these coping mechanisms in turn help to get control over once anxiety concerns in a more adaptable manner.

lack of proper diet, sleep, and exercise can make an individual sluggish, dependent, moody and vulnerable to anxiety attacks.

Making journal entries

Last but not least having a journal to write down how a person is feeling and thinking when they are anxious helps them to reflect upon their thoughts and feelings.

Putting down one’s thoughts and feelings onto a paper helps to provide a sense of temporary relief.

In the case of journal entry, a person does not even have to fear being judged by another person regarding their thoughts and feelings.

What are the therapy options for anxiety experienced by teenagers?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps an individual to control their anxiety by using strategies like relaxation and breathing. It works on the principles of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.

Exposure therapy

Exposure therapy is a kind of therapy in which an individual is exposed to a particular stimulus that they usually fear or are anxious about in a graded order.

As and when the individual gets comfortable with the situation or stimulus introduced or exposed to them with each session individuals get more comfortable with a real-life situation that might have otherwise been a source for triggering anxiety.

Group therapy

 

It is based on the principle that when an individual interacts with other people who are suffering from the same fears they might not feel left alone or isolated. Group therapy usually involves a group of individuals who are experiencing similar symptoms and problems.

Medication

Anxiety can also be treated with the help of medication prescribed by a health care professional.

Though medication alone cannot help in reducing persistent anxiety it can help in restoring a sense of control and bring temporary relief. 

Online therapy  

In cases where reaching out physically to a professional is impossible or discomforting an individual can opt to seek help through the online medium. 

In this, the therapy sessions are carried out one-to-one over a video or audio call. Some individuals also prefer interacting with the therapist through text as well due to various reasons. One of the most common is the fear of being judged by the therapist or some personal hesitation. 

Online therapy can help individuals to regulate some aspects of their anxiety that aids individuals in carrying out a stress-free life over time

Conclusions

Teenagers with anxiety spend a lot of time worrying about critical judgments from others. A job provides teenagers to confront their fears of rejection, and criticism. Apart from this it also provides other benefits such as experience for future jobs, a paycheck, and an opportunity to make new friends.

Although the number of jobs available for teenagers with anxiety is very limited there are a few jobs that might provide teenagers with an opportunity to overcome their fears and provide some sort of financial stability that in turn improves their confidence.

However, if finding a job for teenagers with anxiety gets very difficult yet is important for a living it is best to seek help from a professional to get back to a normal functioning

What we recommend for curbing Anxiety

Below are some of the services and products we recommend for anxiety

Online Therapy

• Online therapy is another thing we should all try. We highly recommend Online therapy with a provider who not only provides therapy but a complete mental health toolbox to help your wellness.

Anxiety Weighted Blankets

• Anxiety Weighted Blankets are by far the number 1 thing every person who suffers from anxiety should at least try. Anxiety Blankets may improve your sleep, allow you to fall asleep faster and you can even carry them around when chilling at home.

Light Therapy

• Amber light therapy from Amber lights could increase the melatonin production in your body and help you sleep better at night.  An Amber light lamp helps reduce the amount of time it takes you to fall asleep and increases overall sleep quality.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of jobs should I get if I have anxiety?

Working with animals is a great opportunity for those with anxiety. This involves much less communication with other people and the chances of humiliation or rejection. Apart from this working with animals can be beneficial for an individual’s mental stability.

Can a 16-year-old have social anxiety?

Social anxiety affects about one out of three adolescents between 13 and 18 years of age. Over 19 million people across America tend to suffer from social anxiety. It is one of the most common anxiety disorders and the third most common mental health disorder in the country.

 Why does anxiety hold you back?

Anxiety creates extreme feelings of worry and fear in a person affecting their normal functioning. people experiencing anxiety are more negative about themselves and their lives.

What is high functioning anxiety?

High functioning anxiety refers to someone who experiences anxiety while still being able to manage daily life. people with high functioning anxiety may appear to put things together and accomplish goals yet experience stress and worry.

Can anxiety be cured?

Anxiety is not curable however there are various therapy options and self-help strategies that people can adopt to get their anxiety into control and carry out a relatively normal life.

Citations

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/jobs-for-teens-with-social-anxiety#kitchen-staff

https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/tips-for-living-with-social-anxiety

https://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/anxiety-triggers

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10634350/

Five Ways Anxiety Holds You Back from Being Successful And How To Overcome It