For most kids, going
back to school is an exciting and fun time, but for some, it is nothing but dreadful. Even if a child isn’t experiencing
bullying or academic trouble, the social factor of public education can be downright daunting for students who have
social anxiety. This is especially true for high school students.
Teens with social anxiety are usually
very reluctant
to go to school in the morning and are always looking for ways to avoid
both small and large group social situations. Common physical symptoms
of anxiety include a fast heart rate, excessive sweating,
hyperventilation, dizziness, stomach pain and crying. Most kids with
social anxiety also suffer from low self-esteem and have an irrational
fear of being watched and judged by others.
If you believe your child is experiencing back-to-school anxiety, you
should ask them to open up about their feelings and fears. Anxiety
comes in many forms and shouldn’t be ignored. Some children may just
need a quick pep talk before school while others may need to seek
professional counseling for their fears.
Although social anxiety is a phobia that takes time to conquer,
parents can help their children cope with their fears by using the
following four tips.
- Teach relaxation techniques: Techniques include
deep breathing, positive visualization and meditation. In addition to
these proximate techniques that can be used at the onset of anxious
feelings, encourage your child to also do some form of exercise every
day. Exercise is great for your overall health, but it is especially
good for reducing anxiety and stress.
- Help them hone a talent: To help with self-esteem,
encourage your teenager to focus on their strengths. Whether it is a
subject in school, an artistic or athletic ability or something else,
children understand their individual value better when they realize and
perfect their unique talents.
- Be their support, not their crutch: Kids
with social anxiety often turn to their parents for comfort and
reassurance. Many children with social phobia spend most of their time
at home after school, because being at home with mom and dad provides a
blanket of comfort for them. While this may seem like easy parenting (a
child at home is a child protected from trouble), it is not healthy
behavior, especially for a teenager. Encourage your teenager to tackle
their phobias by spending more time with their friends or participating
in an after school activity. If they showcase any concerns, tell them
that you know they will enjoy doing something different.
- Encourage part-time work: If your
teenager is old enough to work, encourage them to go get an after
school, part-time job. A job will teach them how to meet new people and
how to work in a team. They will also learn about responsibility,
business and customer service and become exposed to real-world
situations that may help them realize the irrationality of their fears.
As stated before, social anxiety is
not a phobia that
can be fixed overnight. For some people, it can take years to overcome
their fears. However, parents can guide their teens down the path to an
anxiety-free life by recognizing the problem and implementing techniques
that dissolve their phobias.
Contributor: Melissa Miller spent many years working odd jobs before finally admitting it was time to get her
www.associatedegreeonline.com.
Now, she has sworn her life to helping others do the same by explaining
the often tricky world of online education. She welcomes your questions
and comments at
melissamiller831@gmail.com.
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