Overcoming Anxiety in High School: Strategies for Students and Teachers (Part 1)

The term "anxiety disorder" is likely familiar to most of us. This condition can affect us at times and seems to surround us constantly.

In school, where students strive to improve themselves, the likelihood of experiencing anxiety is high. From academic pressures to family life, and interactions with loved ones, friends, and teachers - any situation that causes extreme worry can greatly impact a student’s learning and hinder their personal growth.

This article will help you explore why students often feel anxious both at school and in their personal lives. Additionally, it will provide advice and solutions for students and teachers to overcome their anxieties.

First, let’s examine the factors that contribute to students' worries and concerns:

Causes of anxiety at school

The reasons behind the anxiety young people experience can stem from various factors, including but not limited to the following:

1. Family-related anxiety: The most significant influence in a person’s life often comes from their family. Everyone has their circumstances, and different family situations lead to distinct parenting styles. In some families, parents force their children to pursue goals that only the parents desire, without considering the child's thoughts or feelings. In extreme cases, parents might say hurtful things when their children fail or compare them to other children based on their achievements. These pressures, coming directly from the family, contribute significantly to the anxiety faced by students.

2. Social anxiety: With the increasing prevalence of technology in modern life, access to smart devices is no longer a luxury for young people, even at very early ages. Nowadays, many young people are so engrossed in these devices that they forget they are human and need to live like one. As a result, they may become socially awkward, fearful, and obsessed with unrealistic scenarios happening around them. Gradually, they lose essential human abilities, such as critical thinking, which may lead to depression, low self-esteem, self-isolation, and severe anxiety disorders.

3. Academic Pressure: One of the most common causes of anxiety for students is the pressure to earn high marks. Every student competes in tests to achieve their desired results. While some students achieve because of their hard work and dedication, others may experience overpowering terror whenever they sit down to study or attend school. These students may gradually lose interest in academics, eschewing studying in favor of more enjoyable activities. This can be the result of using inefficient study techniques or just studying because it feels like they have to get good grades and be recognized. As a result, many students lose motivation to learn, which is becoming a major concern in education across all settings.

4. Physical and Emotional Changes: Each person is unique, and no one grows up in the same way. As children get older and learn more about themselves, they develop a variety of psychological responses. Students may begin to notice physical changes, and some may experience insecurities about how they look, particularly if they don't fit the socially acceptable definition of beauty. Individuals with physical flaws may become targets of taunting or bullying, resulting in isolation. This can cause these children to lose confidence in themselves, leading to catastrophic, unexpected consequences.

Signs of Anxiety Disorder:

• Physical: Excessive anxiety in young kids can create weariness and headaches, preventing them from focusing on their schoolwork.

• Psychological: Pressures from not only the academic environment but also from other sources might cause false concerns. In extreme situations, this may lead to actions where pupils become uncontrollable.

• Behavioral: When a child isolates themselves or is separated from society, their environment can become dark. They may begin to ignore everything around them, sinking into despair, making it extremely difficult for them to overcome their circumstances.

(This is the end of part 1, remember to read the next part of this article ^_^!)