How to Support Students Struggling with Anxiety
Today’s teens are the most anxious ever. By the age of 18, one in three children will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder. A Pew survey found that 70 percent of teens say anxiety and depression is a “major problem” among their peers.
Anxiety is a natural biological response to fear or uncertainty. While everyone feels anxious at times, an anxiety disorder goes beyond that. It’s not based on what a child is worrying about, but on how worry impacts their ability to function. Often, anxiety disorders develop during adolescence and can co-occur with depression.
Anxiety symptoms present in different ways among students of different ages. Symptoms include panic attacks, difficulty concentrating, excessive worrying, headaches, and interrupted sleeping patterns. All this can get in the way of learning.
Supporting students with anxiety
Recognizing the all-too-real challenges anxiety presents is an important first step. But once you’ve identified the issue, here are some things you can do to support the students in your life.
Start preparing early
For some students, the strict schedule that comes with a new school year can be a source of stress. Getting up early in itself can be taxing on young, developing minds and bodies. To help with this, start following that schedule in the days leading up to the start of school. Make sure your student follows a school-year bedtime and try to get up early each day.
Understand student feelings
Experiencing anxiety can be frightening, especially for young students. An urgent sense of nervousness and apprehension can be debilitating for anyone. Before trying to problem-solve, confirm their feelings. This may reduce the impact of anxiety and help a student relax, develop trust, and feel understood.
These feelings may worsen when students don’t understand why they feel this way or what they can do to feel better. One of the most beneficial things you can do for anxious students is help them understand their why. The 5 Whys is a technique developed by Sakichi Toyoda. He believed that by asking “why” five times, the nature of a problem and its origins become clear.
To use this strategy, first ask, “Why are you experiencing anxiety?” Use that answer to pose another why question, and repeat this five times. With understanding, students can begin to determine how they can manage anxiety
Teach coping strategies
Mindfulness keeps students grounded when their fight-or-flight response is kicking in. These skills will not only help during the school day, but they’ll also stay with a child for life.
Deep breathing has a calming effect. Deep breaths slow your heart rate, lower blood pressure and increase oxygen intake. The 4-7-8 breathing exercise is a common exercise. Inhale for four counts, hold for seven and exhale for eight.
Grounding distracts students from their anxiety and keeps them grounded in the present. One common exercise is the 5-4-3-2-1 senses technique. List five things you can see, four things you can feel, etc.). Another technique is to count how many items of a particular color you can see around the room.
Progressive muscle relaxation is the practice of tightening and relaxing one muscle group at a time. Begin with the lower extremities and end with the face.
Positive self-talk and affirmations help students challenge self-sabotaging and negative thoughts. Help students select affirmations that speak to them. When students repeat the affirmations, they can start to make positive changes. Students can practice through journaling or snapping a rubber band during negative thoughts.
Another coping mechanism is “talking back.” Teach your child to say things like, “you’re not the boss of me” when anxious thoughts creep in. Children can also learn self-talk techniques to stop the thought stream as it starts. This takes time, but it’s something you can work on outside of school.
Request accommodations
There are a few small things that administrators can do to ease anxious students. A child with anxiety might get extended time when taking tests, for instance. At the very least, make teachers aware of the issue. Stay in touch with teachers so you know of any issues that might be getting in the way of your child’s learning.
For students whose anxiety interferes with their participation ability, consider a 504 plan. If your child has a diagnosed anxiety disorder, discuss it with the principal. Even students who aren’t diagnosed can qualify for a 504 plan. The evaluation process depends on the school, so talk with your administrators.
Consider alternative learning
A classroom setting might not be the best educational setup for every child. Some find that working with tutors or taking courses online can ease anxiety. Even an extra course or time with a tutor can make up for difficulty in the classroom.
For some students, though, online learning is an ideal substitute for in-person learning. Students who find that the classroom creates too much stress may thrive at home. This type of learning lets students learn at their own pace in a preferred environment.
Why BlueSky Online School?
For Minnesota students in grades six through 12, free online school is available. BlueSky offers students the option to complete coursework on their schedule. This individualized approach means students get to create their most productive environment.
As mental health issues worsen each year, the national average is 491 students per counselor. Only three states meet the recommended ratio of 250-to-1. BlueSky offers a three-fold approach to student support. Each student has an advisor, counselor, and school social worker. This team provides one-on-one support catered to each student’s unique needs.
Our teachers care about your personal and academic progress. Your advisor is your first line of support. Your counselor helps you plan your path from enrollment to graduation, and beyond. Your social worker can provide help with school, personal, or family concerns.
The key to BlueSky’s success is our unique approach to student support. We offer students a world-class online education backed by individualized attention. For more information, please contact us.
