Back-To-School Anxiety

Think back to the night before the first day of school. These memories could be happy or sad. Maybe all the excitement made it hard to sleep, or maybe it was hard to eat anything because there was a sick feeling inside. 

Going back to school means entering back into a routine, change, and new opportunities. Some may view these as opportunities for growth and learning, while others may see them as unachievable expectations. Entering the new school year at any age can cause stress.

Causes of Anxiety

We may all have experienced back-to-school anxiety. Here are some causes of that anxiety that may have affected you or may be impacting someone you know. 

• Bullying or Cliques: The thought of being bullied, left out, and lonely can be a source of anxiety. 

• Academic anxiety or testing: In any classroom setting the weight of expectations can be a factor to stress. Being worried about testing in the future and performing well also can contribute to stress. 

• Social Anxiety: Feeling the need to please others or worried about what your peers or teachers may think of you. 

• Separation anxiety: For younger students, it can be hard to be separated from people who love them and also from an environment where they feel comfortable. 

• Generalized anxiety disorder: This kind of anxiety produces fear, worry, and feeling overwhelmed. Looking forward to a new school year can really affect those who have anxiety. 

Coping with Anxiety

• Seeing a healthcare professional: "Your child seeing a therapist isn't a failure on your part of theirs, as mental health care is important for everyone. A therapist will also be able to help diagnose conditions like ADHD that may benefit from medications." More Coping Tips

• Communication: Talk with others to understand their experiences at school. Seeing from a different perspective can help the people you care about succeed in their academic and social lives. 

• School Resources: Work with the teacher, school nurse, or school counselor, to talk about the best steps to take moving forward so that your child can succeed.