Taming Back to School Anxiety what does it mean?
Taming your back-to-school Anxiety. The big bad wolf. It’s always rearing its ugly head at the worst times. As the school year approaches, many kids are headed back to school, wondering how to cope with their anxiety.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health disorders in the United States. It is estimated that anywhere from 1 in 10 to 1 in 13 people suffer from anxiety.
This estimation looks like about 8% of children and teenagers are experiencing an anxiety disorder at any given time. Today’s post will explore anxiety and how you can help your child cope with Anxiety this school year.
What is anxiety?
The Mayo Clinic defines Anxiety as intense, excessive, persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Our brain and body’s reaction to the various stressors of life. Having Anxiety is a normal emotion.
Experiencing Anxiety can make a person feel uneasy about a situation. These feelings can also manifest into a sense of dread, especially before handling a note-worthy event in your life. As unwelcomed as Anxiety can be, it can also benefit us by keeping us stay alert to our surroundings.
What causes anxiety?
Anxiety can occur as a result of many different experiences we have. Students are in a time of significant change. Maybe there’s a big test rapidly approaching or an upcoming presentation.
Students must deal with differences in themselves, their environments’ relationships, and the individuals they interact with daily.
Students at every level begin to deal with some form of peer pressure that sometimes can overwhelm them. With the current state of the world, there has been an uptick in the number of students experiencing daily Anxiety.
What are the signs and Symptoms of anxiety?
Anxiety can manifest within people in different ways. The most common symptoms of Anxiety include the following.
Common Symptoms of Anxiety
- Nervousness or feeling tense
- Feeling a sense of dread or doom
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Rapid breathing/ Shortness of breath
- Sweating, especially in the hands
- Trembling/Shaking
- Weakness or feeling tired
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleep disruption (difficulty getting asleep and staying asleep)
- Dry mouth
- Gastrointestinal Issues (Nausea, upset stomach)
- Avoiding people, places, and things
How can I help my child with school anxiety?
Parents are the first line of defense and the greatest influence in their children’s lives. There are many things that parents can do to help their children cope with back-to-school Anxiety, which we will explore below.
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5 tips to taming back to school anxiety
1. Provide Reassurance
With so many things occurring in the world today, the one thing children need the most is reassurance. Knowing everything will be okay gives children a sense of security that they don’t have to worry about things outside their control.
2. Acknowledge Their Feelings
There is no worst feeling than expressing yourself and not being heard. When your child comes to you and shares how they feel, acknowledge their feelings.
Validating your child’s feelings, no matter how big or small will let them know that they have a designated safe space giving them the confidence to keep a healthy line of communication open.
3. Create a routine
One factor that plays a huge role in reducing the angst of Anxiety is through creating a routine. A structured schedule will reduce your child’s stress during everyday tasks.
Kids thrive on routine. Getting up at the same time for school each day, eating breakfast before heading to school, and even setting a scheduled time to complete homework will go a long way in easing your child’s Anxiety.
4. Get Involved
Helping your child explore things they enjoy and are passionate about is another way to ease their Anxiety. Getting them involved in activities that come naturally can help them develop character and confidence and distract their mind from focusing on external factors that cause anxious behavior.
5. Practice Self-Care
It is never too early to teach your child healthy habits that will last a lifetime. Everyday Health describes self-care as anything you do to care for yourself so you can stay physically, mentally, and emotionally well.
Its benefits are better physical, mental, and emotional Health and well-being. Getting your child into the habit of taking time for themselves and indulging in healthful activities can help them manage their Anxiety.
Self-care activities can include coloring, watching your favorite program together, going for walks, or even family activities, which can get them into the habits of taking care of their mental Health.
final thoughts
As a child, heading back to school and dealing with all the unknowns can be scary. Equipping your child with the right tools to handle their Anxiety is key to ensuring they have a productive school year.
Being their support system and helping them cope with difficult situations can help them manage their Anxiety. Seeking outside help can also benefit your child.
Talking with their school counselor about their concerns can also provide a greater sense of security for your student to make the transition smoother for them.
Parenting is no easy feat, so incorporating realistic tactics can help your child through this process and get them back to being a kid again.
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