During early adolescence, Sofia never truly felt like she fit in the stage of life, so she turned to a place that allowed her to lose herself, numb her feelings – the smartphone. Hour after hour, day after day, she would stare at her phone, endlessly scrolling, trying to find her identity. This distraction helped her avoid the social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and the pain from her parents’ divorce.
“I was completely enchanted by the world inside my phone,” said 15-year-old Sofia in an interview with The Epoch Times. She was baffled by the standards she felt she couldn’t meet – the ones propagated online. She started hating herself and even felt genuinely afraid to talk to people her age.
“After the lockdown ended, every time I went out, I would break out in a sweat,” she said. “I would be very nervous, my face would flush when talking to people.”
She wouldn’t talk about her feelings but let them build up inside her until they exploded at a certain moment.
Sofia began reflecting on her choices. She saw peers on social media boasting about taking medication to cure anxiety while also becoming increasingly addicted to unrestricted phone use. Like Sofia, today’s teenagers easily fall into the traps set by social media, which amplify anxiety and depression and foster the belief that medication is the only way to alleviate teenage discomfort – sometimes just normal emotional responses.
Platforms like TikTok have amplified various claims about treating teenage anxiety and depression with medication. These claims include the dissemination of drug knowledge by psychiatrists, influencers posting sponsored content, pharmaceutical companies advertising, and even teenagers boasting about obtaining prescription anti-anxiety medication.
Today, the landscape of medical information regarding anxiety treatment is vast, in stark contrast to previous generations. Previously, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) had just entered the market for treating depression and anxiety. Drug therapy was a relatively unfamiliar (and usually conducted privately) solution to addressing mental health issues at that time.
Social media has increased awareness and acceptance of mental health issues in young people. However, experts are concerned that the focus on the quick effectiveness of medication is one-sided, disrupting normal efforts to prevent anxiety and depression and affecting more comprehensive mental health treatment options.
Studies show that the risks associated with anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications, such as medication dependence and resistance, overdose, and suicide tendencies, are on the rise among teenagers, while psychological therapy is becoming less common.
“In the United States, pharmaceutical companies have invested heavily in advertising to discuss mental health issues,” said Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, a certified psychiatrist specializing in the side effects of psychiatric drugs, in an interview with The Epoch Times. “These advertisements make teenagers less likely to accept anxiety as a reasonable response to stress and more inclined to view it as a physical illness.”
“Therefore, either doctors prescribe medication to them proactively, or they go to doctors themselves, saying, ‘I have (mental health) issues, I need medication.’ And all of this, under the influence of social media, is further magnified.”
Dr. Witt-Doerring points out that anxiety is a very normal emotional response for teenagers and young people going through a transitional period in life.
However, Dr. Witt-Doerring also notes that teenagers, in particular, tend to fall into a preconceived notion that there is a chemical imbalance in their brains. He states that there is currently no test that can accurately assess neurotransmitter levels related to depression and anxiety, nor is there evidence to suggest that medication can rectify this imbalance.
Education Week, a publication for educators, conducted a survey revealing a significant amount of evidence indicating that teenagers use social media as a platform to diagnose their own and their peers’ mental health conditions.
The survey found:
– 65% of school leaders and teachers reported that students sometimes or often use social media to diagnose their mental health conditions.
– 55% of high school students admitted to using social media at least once to diagnose their mental health conditions, with 28% saying they sometimes do so and 10% saying they always do.
According to a systematic review in the European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry journal, nearly half of the highest-viewed content on TikTok revolves around the theme of poor mental health and uses “mental health” as a keyword tag.
Research shows that popular mental health topics – especially those related to conditions like OCD, dissociative identity disorder, and self-harm – are associated with an increase in the number of cases being treated for these disorders.
TikTok has enabled teen users to identify with a community that struggles with anxiety and depression alongside other teenagers and celebrities, considering it a badge of honor.
“There is a lot of content online talking about ‘a day in the life of someone with severe depression, these are the medications I’m taking,'” he said. “This really makes you feel like this is extremely normal. When you see enough of it, you think, ‘Oh, everyone has these brain disorders, everyone needs to take these pills.'”
TikTok did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment on this matter.
The impact of social media on young girls particularly worries Aaliyah Kissick, a 24-year-old graduate student who used to work as a youth counselor.
“These posts are very persuasive, and it’s really surprising,” she told The Epoch Times. “It’s more dangerous for people whose brains are still developing because this content is targeted based on comments.”
She noted that TikTok’s algorithm not only shows users content they are interested in but also displays videos their friends are watching. Teens might be bombarded with similar videos just because their friends are engaging with content related to the anti-depressant drug Zoloft, for example.
“Unfortunately, if a group of people gets together to discuss mental illness but keeps dwelling on various symptoms rather than seeking solutions, it’s easy for an echo chamber effect to develop, making everyone’s condition worse,” she said.
Family physician and integrative medical therapist Dr. Cammy Benton, in an interview with The Epoch Times, stated that many current methods for treating adolescent anxiety overlook the more complex underlying factors, such as academic pressure, social dynamics, family instability, and undiagnosed learning disabilities. These fundamental issues often require a more comprehensive, developmental approach rather than immediate intervention with medication.
She pointed out that the increasing trend of prescription drug therapy might inadvertently overshadow these deep-rooted issues, potentially hindering adolescents from developing crucial coping mechanisms and understanding the underlying causes of their mental health problems.
Statistics show that in 2020, nearly 12% of children were informed by healthcare professionals that they had depression or anxiety, compared to 9.4% four years prior.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics indicated that the percentage of adolescents presenting with anxiety-related concerns during visits increased threefold from 2006 to 2018, rising from 1.4% to 4.2%. This study was based on data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey related to adolescent visits.
During the same period, the diagnosis rate of anxiety disorders among adolescents tripled, as did the rate of diagnosis among young adults. However, the proportion of individuals receiving psychological therapy decreased from 49% to 33%.
Among adolescents diagnosed with anxiety disorders, approximately 62% received drug therapy, with 45% using SSRIs and 18% using benzodiazepines – the latter of which may pose risks. Additionally, child psychiatrists are more likely to provide outpatient services in high-income counties, highly educated communities, and metropolitan areas rather than rural areas. In other words, regional discrepancies limit adolescents’ access to these healthcare services.
SSRIs, particularly Prozac, Lexapro, Celexa, and Zoloft, are frontline drugs for treating anxiety, commonly used in conjunction with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT is a form of psychotherapy aimed at helping adolescents identify negative thought and behavior patterns and develop better coping strategies.
Authors of a paper published in Pediatrics wrote that during visits, the decline in psychological therapy and the increase in reliance on anxiety medications may reflect ongoing struggles with strained outpatient healthcare resources, amid the escalating crisis of children and adolescent mental health.
To some extent, this may be related to the regional shortage of child psychiatrists. Another report in Pediatrics stated that while this specialty field is growing, actual visits haven’t improved. Between 2007 and 2016, 70% of U.S. counties lacked child psychiatrists.
Any physician with prescription rights can prescribe SSRIs or other anti-anxiety drugs for adolescents, which the American Psychiatric Association (APA) deems safe. However, the association did not respond to The Epoch Times’ request for comment on this matter.
Psychiatrist Dr. Witt-Doerring pointed out that doctors might not proactively disclose the side effects of these drugs because they believe side effects are rare. Simultaneously, healthcare professionals do not discuss psychotherapy, exercise, adequate sleep, or healthy eating – all of which are basic factors contributing to poor mental health.
In an article published in the American Psychological Association, psychiatry professor Roger Walsh wrote: “Lifestyle changes could have a significant healing effect on patients, therapists, and the entire society, but this approach is severely underrated and underused in education and clinical practice.” He recommended lifestyle adjustments including healthy eating, connecting with nature, regular exercise, engaging in religious activities, and leisure.
Dr. Witt-Doerring believes that medication should be the last resort, especially for teenagers. He warns that seeking quick solutions through medication is akin to playing a game of Russian roulette.
“If the entire healthcare system treats patients transactionally, with only 15 minutes per visit, focusing solely on medication rather than truly helping patients address the root of their problems, it’s a big problem,” he said. “At this rate, the end result will be that many people start taking medication but cannot stop.”
The complexity of treating adolescent anxiety and depression is compounded by the fact that they often struggle to adhere to medication or behavior change plans. Factors such as emotional maturity, developmental stage, family system support, etc., can influence their willingness to stick to treatment plans.
“Developing good habits at any age is very challenging,” said family physician Dr. Benton.
For cases requiring complex treatment execution, she tends to favor Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a form of magnetic resonance therapy that has shown potential in treating anxiety. The treatment process involves directing magnetic pulses to specific regions of the brain.
“Therapy like this doesn’t require their compliance,” explained Dr. Benton. “Because asking them to do what you say is really hard, and when they can’t do it, they feel discouraged.”
Most antidepressants work similarly to alcohol or sedatives, numbing the brain to alleviate symptoms. Dr. Witt-Doerring noted that this numbing state might have a therapeutic effect in severe anxiety cases, but drug dependence can weaken the long-term recovery and resilience of the body.
“Additionally, some people become very lethargic after taking medication, so they become somewhat disconnected from life,” he said. “Their connections with people around them also decrease.”
Taking SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) can also have other consequences, including:
– Suicidal thoughts and behavior;
– Mania;
– Seizures;
– Sexual dysfunction: including decreased libido, erectile dysfunction in males, delayed or absent female orgasms;
– Discontinuation syndrome: symptoms such as nausea, sweating, emotional instability, cognitive impairment, insomnia, or others that occur after suddenly stopping the drug.
Dr. Witt-Doerring noted that some individuals continue to experience these symptoms even long after stopping the medication.
“Most teenagers being recommended to use antidepressants aren’t informed that these drugs may potentially cause permanent sexual dysfunction,” he said. “Some people – they never recover from it. If it happens to you, it’s a nightmare.”
Many people are also not informed that stopping SSRIs and other drugs can be very difficult. One in every six to seven individuals stopping medication experiences “protracted antidepressant withdrawal.”
A survey involving 1,148 patients seeking to stop antidepressant drugs (primarily white, female patients) indicated that 40% experienced symptoms lasting more than two years, and 80% reported moderate or severe impacts from these withdrawal symptoms.
These findings were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, presenting that 25% of patients were unsuccessful in discontinuing medication.
The difficulty in ceasing medication may result from the “protracted antidepressant withdrawal” causing damage to the brain. The survey revealed that over 75% of respondents experienced new symptoms – usually not associated with anxiety and depression sufferers – such as:
– Dizziness;
– Memory problems;
– Difficulty concentrating;
– Increased sensitivity to light and noise;
– Headaches;
– Feeling electric shocks in the brain;
– Emotional and cognitive disconnection;
– Feeling disconnected from the environment, perceiving the world as distorted.
The adverse effects of withdrawal included impaired work capacity (56%), unemployment (20%), the need for sick leave (27%), and relationship breakdowns (25%).
A qualitative study based on narratives of 69 patients described two suicide cases related to withdrawal symptoms, one of which involved a patient experiencing persisting and unhealed sexual dysfunction for three years. The day before her suicide, she posted online saying she couldn’t continue living in this state.
According to the report, this 21-year-old patient wrote: “To tell the truth, right now I am in hell. I’ve been almost hopeless. This state has lasted for over three years, and things have hardly improved. Honestly, I don’t know how much longer I can hold on.”
The next day, this young woman took her own life.
Another risk is Late-Onset Depression (tardive dysphoria), a phenomenon where depressive symptoms worsen after prolonged antidepressant use.
“Sometimes taking these drugs only makes the patient’s condition worsen over time,” Dr. Witt-Doerring said. “Doctors fail to realize that it’s the medication worsening their condition, and then, doctors just keep prescribing other drugs.”
“Patients start taking multiple different drugs concurrently, but their condition doesn’t improve, when, in reality, it’s the initial drug they started that’s harming them.”
Crystal Weichelt’s long struggle with antidepressant drugs began during her teenage years when she started taking SSRIs (anti-anxiety medication) after breaking up with her boyfriend and feeling anxious.
She told The Epoch Times that after her anxiety worsened, her psychiatrist prescribed her a low dose of Ativan, a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety. Benzodiazepines can slow down brain and central nervous system activity but are prone to dependence, with potential risks of respiratory problems or even death from overdose.
She said: “People who are already anxious are very vulnerable. You will listen to any advice from the doctor just to get rid of those symptoms. That little pill seems like the perfect solution to life’s problems, and the doctor tells you that this pill will help you.”
After twelve years on Ativan, with the dosage gradually increasing tenfold from the original, Weichelt began to question why she was still struggling with her anxiety.
A Facebook group advocating for benzodiazepines encouraged her to slowly taper off the medication. The entire process took her three and a half years, and even after discontinuing the medication, her condition continued to deteriorate.
She eventually spent four years bedridden and five years homebound. During this time, her husband had to help her eat and bathe. She weighed only 100 pounds, and due to the severity of her condition, she had already planned her funeral. But even so, she never gave up hope.
Weichelt said: “I have a very devout faith in God, and I knew He would lead me out of the storm, which indeed He did. I promised God that if I could survive and live through this, I would help others through their struggles too.”
To this day, she has been off medication for over two years and has become a certified life coach, specializing in helping people overcoming benzodiazepine addiction.
Some methods that Weichelt used during her recovery included:
– Visualization training for mind and body awareness
– Reading healing scriptures and meditation
– Physical exercise (starting with gentle movements from bed)
– Letting people know they are not alone through online Zoom community meetings
“Young adulthood is a vulnerable time easily influenced by medications, which can be misused and abused,” said Greta Bushnell, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health, in an email to The Epoch Times. “This age group is at higher risk of drug misuse, increased risky behavior, first-time exposure to illicit drugs, and the appearance of many mental health issues.”
Bushnell pointed out that when helping troubled adolescents, it’s crucial to cautiously prescribe sedatives, hypnotics, and anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines), as well as to consider non-drug therapeutic approaches.
She stated that caution should be exercised in prescribing sedatives, hypnotics, and anti-anxiety medications to young people due to the risks of misuse, abuse, and overuse.
Bushnell was the lead author of a recent study published in the journal Addiction. The study revealed that since 2001, the incidence of related diseases caused by repeated use of sedatives, hypnotics, and anti-anxiety medications among young people has increased fivefold. However, she noted that overall, the misuse of these drugs is still relatively rare.
Bushnell commented that the increased symptoms, including withdrawal symptoms, toxicity, and addiction, might be attributed to improved detection rates and increased awareness.
She said, “The efficacy and safety of drugs used to treat anxiety symptoms vary. Therefore, the treatment method depends on various factors. For example, benzodiazepines are at risk of misuse, abuse, and overdose, so their use is not recommended in certain patients.”
According to a study published in the journal Addiction in 2023, benzodiazepines are considered a secondary treatment strategy for treating depression and anxiety, whether used alone or in conjunction with SSRIs. Using benzodiazepines concurrently with SSRIs increases the likelihood of overdosing compared to using SSRIs alone.
These medications are not only used to treat depression and anxiety but also sleep disorders and seizures. The study found that most teenagers abusing these drugs did not have prescriptions from doctors but obtained them from friends or home medicine cabinets. This abuse-induced side effects might be mistakenly interpreted as anxiety.
Apart from drug therapy and psychotherapy, some other supportive approaches can effectively alleviate anxiety and depression.
Dr. Witt-Doerring noted that some of the most impressive studies focus on nutrition. Removing processed and high-sugar foods from teenagers’ diets has shown improvements in their mental health. The Mediterranean diet (based on the traditional dietary habits of Mediterranean coastal countries) and the ketogenic diet (a high-fat, low-carb, moderate-protein diet) have been found to be associated with improved brain function.
Many programs specializing in treating adolescent anxiety provide a range of comprehensive exercise plans and therapies, such as the program provided by the Newport Academy. The academy focuses on treating adolescent mental health and resolving drug use disorders. These programs emphasize various types of therapies, including physical activities, art or music therapy, community service, yoga and meditation, adequate sleep, and avoiding electronic devices.
Research shows that four months of consistent exercise (e.g., thrice a week, 30 minutes of fast aerobic exercise per session) is equally effective as using the SSRI Zoloft.
Developing healthy smartphone use habits has been beneficial for Aaliyah Kissick. She stated that she often took breaks from social media. Her Christian faith and friendships also helped her alleviate anxiety by enhancing her sense of identity and life goals.
“An important component of psychological security is having friends, embracing the community, and having a faith beyond yourself,” she said. “I believe that building face-to-face community relationships will be the antidote to addressing all of this.”
As Sofia said, the transition from adolescence to adulthood requires patience. Just as her appearance changes rapidly, so does her