Reading time: 2 minutes
Suitable for: Families of secondary-age children
Read the primary-aged version of this Quick Read
When your child feels agitated, they have a feeling of intense restlessness, or edge and worked up inside. It’s a common feeling for both adults and children when we feel stressed or under pressure.
Common reasons for children to feel agitated include:
- Stress at school
- Peer pressure
- Feeling ill
- Overworking (especially around exams)
- Bereavement
- Anxiety or depression
- Certain medical conditions
- Hormonal imbalances
- Some neurological disorders
When your teen is agitated, they are easily annoyed. The littlest thing may provoke them. Some older children particularly struggle with this through puberty.
At times, it will be obvious why your teen is agitated, such as in the lead up to a big exam or important sports fixture. At other times, you might not see why they feel agitated and will have to play detective to work out what might be wrong
If your child is feeling agitated, they may seem restless and unable to sit still. You might notice them chewing on their nails, tapping their feet, or displaying other repetitive movements, like pacing.
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