School’s in Session – Tips for Managing School Anxiety during the New Academic Year
For adolescents, summer is a time of freedom and fun, a welcome reprieve from homework, textbooks and early mornings. As the summer months pass, bringing us closer to cool fall days, kids and teens may have feelings of anxiety over the return to school.
It’s not uncommon to feel anxious about going back to school, and if not properly addressed, it can lead to various problems throughout the rest of the academic year. Here, we will discuss how to recognize signs of school anxiety in your child and tips to help them navigate the challenges that may arise before and after the return to school.
What Causes Back-to-School Anxiety?
School anxiety can strike at any age, from our first ventures into pre-K all the way up to college and graduate studies. No matter the age, that anxiety can appear for a variety of reasons, such as:
Changes in Schedule
Many of us are creatures of habit – we like schedules, familiar surroundings, and daily routines. Annual changes from the classroom to summer freedom and back to the classroom can wreak havoc on those who worry about being thrust into brand-new surroundings and situations. Even if students are returning to the same schools with the same hallways and friends, navigating new schedules, teachers, and workloads can add heightened levels of stress. Anxiety may feel more acute for students transitioning to a new school.
Fear of Academic Failure
Many students face immense academic pressures, whether from family members, teachers, or even themselves. Impending test dates, daily homework, comparison to peers, and an overall heavy workload can lead to academic anxiety as students stress over grades.
Navigating Social Life
Each school year brings with it new peer groups. Students often face anxiety over the fear of not fitting in, finding new friends, or staying connected with old ones. Those who have experienced bullying may also be overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of returning to another school year with their bully.
General School Disinterest
It can be difficult to get hyped up for the school year, and some students never quite get there at all. To them, school is just a place they have to go and they struggle with the routine and expectations. This can lead to a range of anxieties, from disappointing their parents or performing badly on exams to simply finding the motivation to wake up on time to catch the bus.
Concerns about Safety
It’s an unfortunate fact that schools are sometimes the scene of stressful and traumatizing events. Many students face understandable anxiety about school safety and what to do should the worst happen while they’re in the classroom.
What Are the Signs of Back-to-School Anxiety?
With these causes in mind, it’s vital to regularly look for signs of anxiety in your student. If not properly identified and addressed, they can lead to academic, behavioral, and emotional issues.
Physical Signs of Anxiety
Is your student often complaining of a stomachache or headache? Are they suddenly not eating, or eating a lot of junk food? Do they have trouble sleeping, especially on school nights? If so, they may be experiencing physical signs of school anxiety.
Emotional Signs of Anxiety
Students feeling anxious about the school year may show symptoms of excessive worrying and fear, which could lead into full-blown panic attacks. It’s not uncommon for them to ruminate on these feelings and be unable to break the pattern without help.
Behavioral Signs of Anxiety
You may have an easier time noticing behavioral changes in your student, and it’s vital to recognize them as symptoms of school anxiety. These may include sudden changes in mood or temperament, difficulty concentrating, sudden isolation from friends, unexplained or sudden tantrums, decreased interest in activities that previously gave them joy, restlessness, and an increase in frustration or irritability.
How to Help Students with School Anxiety
As you and your student begin the transition back to the school year, keep these tips in mind to help ease school anxiety.(1)
Begin Preparations Early
Be prepared and avoid the last-minute rush. Gather back-to-school supplies, go shopping for new clothes, review new school year expectations, and get students back on an early bedtime/morning rise schedule before school starts. If possible, particularly for younger children, visit the school before the start of the year to familiarize them with the environment and practice drop-offs.
Introduce Rewards
If you have a reward-driven student, use it to your advantage. Determine the reward that works best for your child and establish it as a prize for good grades, getting to school on time, or other tasks they may struggle with. Prizes could include a later bedtime, money toward a new video game or phone, a special activity, a trip to their favorite restaurant, and much more.
Foster Lines of Communication
Make sure your student knows that you are always available to talk and to hear their concerns. Encourage them to be open and honest with you and never punish them for their feelings. Instead, find ways to talk through their concerns and come up with solutions for a more stress-free school year.
Show Genuine Concern and Compassion
Above all else, always show your student that you care, and you’re here for them. If they are feeling down about grades, focus on their strengths, highlighting their achievements and celebrating big and small success alike. If they are struggling with social aspects, encourage constructive self-talk that highlights positive affirmations.
Introduce the 3-3-3 Rule(2)
The 3-3-3 rule is a technique used to help people cope with anxiety, particularly when they are feeling completely overwhelmed. While it’s not meant to be a substitute for anxiety treatment, it can be extremely helpful in the moment. The 3-3-3 rule asks the individual to pause, focus, and observe their environment in order to:
- Name 3 things they see
- Identify 3 sounds they hear
- Physically move or touch 3 things
When It’s Time to Seek Help for Anxiety
If your student is showing signs of prolonged school anxiety that isn’t getting better, it may be time to consult with a mental health professional. The psychiatric clinicians and clinical therapists at SOL Mental Health can help you and your adolescent identify symptoms of anxiety, work toward resolving them, and establish a plan going forward into the school year. Get started with your first appointment today.
----
2) Healthline
