#school #anxiety #education #mentalhealth

October 20, 2023October 19, 2023

“Does My Child Have School Anxiety?” Recognizing and Addressing School Anxiety in Children, Part 1

By: Lauren Neumeyer

Imagine a 10-year-old, let’s call her June, is returning to school after a summer spent with her family. While June claims she is looking forward to her 5th grade year, she complains about having a stomachache the day before orientation. The physical symptoms continue to escalate as school begins. Soon, June begins to have outbursts in class as she struggles to manage her feelings. Her mother is surprised, as this is unusual behavior for June. June’s teachers soon begin to report that, despite her intelligence, she has trouble sitting still and staying on task. Now, her grades are falling and she avoids homework. June begins to grow irritable around her family and friends. She becomes easily frustrated and overwhelmed when presented with tasks around the house. At this point, Mom is incredibly concerned so she schedules an appointment with the therapist who tells her about a condition called school anxiety.

The Elements of School Anxiety

School anxiety is a common concern among children in both traditional and nontraditional school settings. School anxiety can significantly impact a child’s academic performance, social interactions and overall well-being. Parents play a crucial role in identifying the signs and symptoms of school anxiety among their children and taking the actions necessary to support them. By becoming knowledgeable on the signs of school anxiety, parents can take the first step in meeting their child’s needs. Let’s address three of the most consistent signs that your child may be struggling with school anxiety:

Reluctance or refusal to attend school, often accompanied by tantrums or meltdowns.

School avoidance is a common sign of school anxiety; children who struggle with attending may find it extremely difficult to get out of bed, to get ready for school and/or to transport to school. They may plead to stay home and experience an overwhelming stress response when remaining home is not an option.

Somatic reactions

It is quite common for children who struggle with school anxiety to feel “sick” – tummy aches, headaches, nausea, etc. – and experience those intense feelings in the morning before school, before tests or presentations.

Inattention and/or restlessness

Not to be confused with ADHD, school anxiety is driven by worry about classroom expectations and obligations. It can present passive – daydreaming, unfocused or looking ‘lost’ during instruction – or with overt behavior such as fidgeting or pacing in the classroom.

Top Three Tips: Managing School Anxiety

If either of these signs are sounding familiar, don’t panic! Here are two tips for overcoming the symptoms of school anxiety:

Create a space for open communication and active listening.

Encourage your child to share their school experience with you. Give space for any concerns they may have about school such as social interaction, academic performance and other school experiences.

Validate their feelings.

While our parent brain seeks to immediately eliminate anything that causes our child discomfort, it is important that we allow them to express their feelings and affirm to them that it is normal to feel anxious at times.

Create a morning routine or timetable.

Creating and maintaining a morning routine for getting up, getting dressed, having breakfast and departing from the house can help ease the tension building up to school mornings. Minimizing uncertainty can help them start the day with less stress and more confidence.

You are not alone!

Parents and caregivers, it is important to remember that school anxiety is a common challenge that many children face. You are taking the first significant step in overcoming this challenge by learning and growing with your child, understanding what they need and advocating for them. Keep in mind, you are not alone! Together, we can create a brighter future for your child, where they can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Remember that you are doing an incredible job as a parent, and your love and support make a world of difference. Stay hopeful, stay strong, stay informed, and know that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Stay tuned Part 2 of “Does My Child Have School Anxiety?” Recognizing and Addressing School Anxiety in Children!

October 13, 2023August 8, 2024

OCD, Part 1: What Is It and How Do I Manage It?

by: Kasha Martin and Natalie Bunner, LCSW-BACS

Alyssa, an 11-year-old, has picked up a habit. Her caregiver noticed that while working on math homework, Alyssa plucks strands from her hair. Upon closer view, her caregiver noticed that Alyssa now has a small bald spot near her temple. Feeling alarmed, they explore what is happening and learn from Alyssa that plucking at the strands of hair helps her do well in Math. She believes that she must pluck hair in a particular spot in order to maintain progress in class. Alyssa experiences the most satisfaction when pulling hairs there as she understands that the action is key to her success. When encouraged to stop pulling, she stated that she cannot because, if she did, she would fail Math for the school year.

This is an example of OCD.

OCD Defined

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is an anxiety-related mental health disorder in which people experience pattern of unwanted thoughts, feelings, and fears that lead to repetitive behaviors. Today, we will focus on the O – Obsessions – in OCD. Many people with OCD experience obsessive ruminations, where they find themselves struggling to move through unhelpful thoughts. Try as they might, they feel confounded and overwhelmed by these intrusive thoughts. Obsessions can impair the ability to function and negatively impact the capacity to work, relate and live fully. While symptoms can vary from person to person, our purpose is to explore how it typically manifests in children.

Obsessions in Children can relate to:
Disproportionate fear and/or avoidance of germs or dirt
Preoccupation with losing or forgetting things
Overwhelming need for organization
Intrusive thoughts of violence or harm, whether as perpetrator or victim
Obsessive thoughts regarding rules or order.
Extreme need for rigid morality.

Remember, these obsessions are repetitive and intrusive. The thoughts are not based in reality. They are generally unwanted thoughts that intrude on your life and make it difficult to function. They don’t have to make sense or be logical; they just need to be distressing for you.

The Impact of OCD

Unfettered, obsessive thoughts can begin to impair your child’s daily functioning. The continual intrusions can lead to compulsive behaviors and disrupt their mood and relationships. The impact of OCD can look like:

Inconsistent sleep hygiene
Anxious or depressed mood
Poor emotional regulation
Withdrawn presentation
School Anxiety
Separation Anxiety
Social challenges
Body Dysmorphia
Agoraphobia

These symptoms and more can be very challenging for a child with OCD. In Part 2 of this series, we will explore compulsions and the impact they have on a child’s mental and emotional health. Until then, what can you do if you think your child may struggle with OCD symptoms?

Parent Tip: How to Respond to Obsessive Thinking

If your child is showing signs of OCD – Obsessions:

Speak with your child about their thoughts. Talk in a supportive way and listen, while showing love.
Make an appointment with a therapist with training in treating OCD.
Be an active part in your child’s therapy.
Identify community resources that may provide your child with guidance and support

Parents, it can be hard to watch your child struggle with the challenges associated with OCD. It is important to recognize that it is not your fault. It will require you to become educated on the diagnosis so that you can best help your child. With compassion and understanding, you can help your child acknowledge and deal with their obsessive tendencies without shame. You can be a part of their healing and celebrate their efforts to live a more enriched life.

October 9, 2023October 9, 2023

Mindful Mondays: School’s Back and I’m Anxious!

By: Lauren Neumeyer

Thought:

From the outside, the symptoms of school anxiety can look like challenging behaviors that can leave us flustered. While it is easy to become preoccupied with the obvious behaviors, let’s get curious – what is this behavior REALLY about? This visual shows us how the noticeable behaviors and physical symptoms can a sign of deeper challenges. Once we take a closer look beneath the surface, we may find the real issues and find ways to address them. Think it out – what challenges you when trying to see below the surface? And once we unveil what is below the surface, what can we do with what we find?

Tip:

Seeing your child experience school anxiety can often bring up lots of worry for us! It is hard to watch your child struggle with worry and confidence at school. Just remember, you are not alone! You are part of a parent community who want to help their child succeed. Check out this graphic by creator @all_five_senses for some easing back-to-school anxiety tips. Which do you think would work best for your child?

Thanks:

Providing our children with the space and tools to alleviate symptoms of school anxiety can be difficult to navigate. While we try our best to provide a nurturing environment for our children to thrive, it is important to remember that not every day is going to be a great one. And. That. Is. Okay. Each day is another chance to start over and that is something to be grateful for. You got this!