How to Deal With Stress and Anxiety at School: Guide for Students

Student life often proves a challenge for many. Besides the tons of assignments, you are required to handle, the money and pressures of adapting to a new environment can take a toll on you. 

Although anxiety is a good sign that something isn’t going right, prolonged anxiety is dangerous and can adversely hinder your capacity to study. If you are dealing with students, it is key that you understand how to spot and help anxious students to overcome their stress.

Read on to identify the causes of anxiety at various levels of study and some tips to help students with anxiety. 

Why does school give me anxiety?

Ranging from tough assignments to social anxiety, there are many reasons why school may trigger your anxiety. The causes of anxiety may vary depending on your financial capabilities, workload, and relationships within the school.

If you notice increased levels of stress and some of the symptoms highlighted in the sections below, we recommend that you gauge your cause of stress and proper mitigation for the issue.

Anxiety in elementary students

Causes

Elementary students often get stressed due to separation anxiety, social anxiety, and test anxiety. Having gotten used to the company of guardians and siblings, the elementary student may feel stressed adapting to an environment without their caretakers. 

Also, making friends with peers may be an issue for some students, therefore, causing social stress. Students in elementary school may also experience a persistent urge to perform exemplary in a bid to make their parents proud. 

The previous failure may worsen test anxiety, making it hard for the student to concentrate on study. 

Signs

Elementary school anxiety may be manifested as prolonged fatigue, headaches, stomach-aches, and change in sleeping habits. You could easily observe a low capacity to pay attention from your toddler and consult them to determine if they are experiencing anxiety.

Solutions

If your child confirms they are suffering anxiety, encourage frequent talks to advise them on various challenges they are experiencing. Also, create a conducive environment for your child and support them in challenging study areas to overcome homework anxiety.

Anxiety in middle school students

Causes

In addition to social anxiety, middle school may experience anxiety due to self-discovery, huge workloads, and various issues that come with puberty. Middle graders may also experience social anxiety in school due to issues such as bullying and time misappropriation.

Signs

These issues may manifest as tantrums, incapacity to complete assignments, drug/alcohol abuse, and in extreme cases, truancy. 

Solution

When helping middle schoolers to overcome their anxiety, prepare a schedule for assignments and revision, overcoming negative results that could inspire test anxiety.

Also, build positive relationships with your kid, enabling them to freely discuss various stressors with you. This will allow you to guide the kid and offer the occasional pick-me-ups to cheer up your adolescent. 

Also, develop a reward system to motivate positive behaviour and to make your child appreciate their capabilities. 

Anxiety in high school students

Causes

High school is an entirely different ballpark with students who have not experienced freedom in lower levels of study. The sheer range of commitments in high school may impair your capacity to study effectively, inspiring test anxiety.

Signs

Anxiety in high school can be expressed through behaviour such as becoming ill more often and struggling with schoolwork. Students may also tend to experience long spells of fatigue, adopting habitual procrastination. 

Solution

Similar to all levels of study, you must build a communication channel to express your disgruntlement. Also, seek help to stay abreast with various responsibilities without risking mental exhaustion. 

Helping students with anxiety in school

So, what can you do to help a student who opens up to you with the common phrase: “school makes me depressed and anxious”? Some of the approaches for overcoming anxiety include:

  • Taking time off to relax and recharge before resuming your daily routine.
  • Talking to a friend or a professional for guidance on how to overcome various challenges as you adapt to a new environment.
  • Chunking projects into manageable portions and schedule to complete your assignments before the deadline.
  • Participate in regular physical activity and join a club/ activity that allows you to interact with peers and let off the pressures from the study.
  • Develop good sleeping habits.

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