Empowering Minds Counselling & Hypnotherapy

11/09/2026

Teenage behaviour — or something more?

Moodiness, wanting more privacy, occasionally cancelling plans and needing reassurance can all be part of ordinary teenage life.

What may be worth paying closer attention to is when something changes from your teenager’s usual behaviour, continues over time, happens increasingly often or begins affecting school, friendships, family life or everyday activities.

You don’t need to analyse every difficult day.

Look for the pattern and the change.

https://empoweringminds.uk/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers/

10/09/2026

Anxiety isn’t only something we experience in our thoughts.

Teenagers may sometimes describe physical experiences such as stomach aches, nausea, headaches, feeling shaky or tense, dizziness, a racing heart, or feeling unusually hot or sweaty.

Of course, physical symptoms can have many different causes and shouldn’t automatically be assumed to be anxiety.

But when physical symptoms appear alongside changes in mood, behaviour, avoidance or worry, they can form part of the wider picture.

08/09/2026

“Are you sure everything is okay?”
“Do you think they’re annoyed with me?”
“What if I get it wrong?”

Asking for reassurance is completely normal. But when anxiety is involved, reassurance may only reduce the worry for a short time before the same question comes back again.

What may stand out isn’t necessarily the question itself, but how often reassurance is needed and how difficult it becomes to accept it.

Looking at the pattern can tell us much more than one question in isolation.

06/09/2026

Perfectionism can sometimes hide anxiety.

A teenager may appear to be doing well while feeling increasingly distressed by mistakes, putting pressure on themselves or feeling that what they do is never quite good enough.

From the outside, this can look like high standards or determination. What may be worth noticing is when mistakes begin to cause significant worry, upset or avoidance.

It’s another reason why anxiety in teenagers doesn’t always look like obvious worry.

https://empoweringminds.uk/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers/

04/09/2026

One cancelled plan, one difficult morning or one emotional reaction does not automatically mean a teenager is anxious.

What can be more helpful is noticing whether there has been a change from their usual behaviour, whether it keeps happening, and whether it is beginning to affect everyday life.

Looking for patterns rather than one isolated moment can give parents a clearer picture of what may be going on.

Read the full parent guide here:

https://empoweringminds.uk/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers/

03/09/2026

Anxiety in teenagers doesn’t always look like obvious worry.

Sometimes it can show up as irritability, avoidance, perfectionism, repeated reassurance-seeking or stronger emotional reactions than usual.

One behaviour on its own doesn’t necessarily mean a teenager is anxious. What can be more useful is noticing changes, patterns and whether something is beginning to affect everyday life.

I’ve put together a parent resource looking at some of the less obvious signs of anxiety in teenagers:

https://empoweringminds.uk/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers/

01/09/2026

Anxiety in teenagers does not always look like obvious worry.

Changes in mood, behaviour, reassurance-seeking, withdrawal, perfectionism, sleep or physical wellbeing may sometimes be signs that something is going on beneath the surface.

I’ve created a new parent resource looking at some of the signs of anxiety in teenagers and what parents may begin to notice.

Read the full guide on the Empowering Minds website.

For Facebook, add the article link:
https://empoweringminds.uk/signs-of-anxiety-in-teenagers/

26/08/2026

31/07/2026

The moment I realised that taking care of myself isn't selfish...

For a long time, I believed that putting everyone else first made me a good person.

I said yes when I wanted to say no.
I ignored my own needs.
I carried responsibilities that weren't mine to carry.

Eventually, I realised something important.

You can't keep pouring from an empty cup.

Looking after yourself doesn't take away from the people you love. It gives you the energy, patience and resilience to be present for them without losing yourself in the process.

Self care isn't about luxury or being self indulgent.

Sometimes it looks like:
💜 Setting a boundary.
💜 Taking a break before you're exhausted.
💜 Asking for help.
💜 Getting enough sleep.
💜 Going for a walk.
💜 Saying no without feeling guilty.
💜 Making time for therapy.

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish.

It's an act of self respect.

And when you begin treating yourself with the same kindness you offer everyone else, everything starts to change.

💜 What was the moment you realised that taking care of yourself wasn't selfish?

30/07/2026

Sometimes I feel heavy... and that's okay.

We often put pressure on ourselves to feel positive all the time.

To keep smiling.
To keep coping.
To keep going.

But being human means experiencing the full range of emotions.

Some days you'll feel motivated.
Some days you'll feel hopeful.
And some days everything will feel... heavy.

That doesn't mean you're failing.
It doesn't mean you're weak.
And it certainly doesn't mean you'll always feel this way.

Emotions aren't problems to solve, they're signals to listen to.

Instead of asking yourself, "How do I stop feeling this?" try asking:

💜 What might this feeling be trying to tell me?
💜 What do I need today?
💜 Can I offer myself the same compassion I'd give someone I love?

You don't have to carry every difficult feeling on your own.

Sometimes talking, taking a pause, resting or simply acknowledging how you feel is the most healing thing you can do.

Remember, it's okay to have difficult days.

You don't have to be okay all of the time.

💜 When life feels heavy, what's one small thing that helps you feel supported?