Anxiety

 

 

We've all had fears at one time or another.  Do you remember a time that you were scared?  Think of the way it made you feel.  Did you have sweaty palms?  Increased breathing rate?  Butterflies? An upset stomach?  For most of us, these symptoms are short-lived.  Once the "thing" causing your anxiety goes away (for example, if you are afraid of hights -  getting down from a high place), we feel better.  For people with anxiety, though, these feelings can be a part of every day life.   

 

For our students with anxiety, school can be a place of discomfort.  And we all know - if we're not comfortable, we are less likely to be able to concentrate and learn.  For example, if you are afraid of spiders and oa tarantula was crawling up your arm as someone was giving you their phone number, do you think you'd remember it?  It can sometimes be a challenge for children with anxiety in the classroom, but with an understanding teacher, and the right accommodations, these students can flourish!  Hopefully the websites below will be useful to you:

 

Anxiety Disorders - A two page handout from the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health that discusses the types of anxiety, symptoms/behaviors, educational implications and instructional strategies.  A great place to begin!  

 

School and Classroom Strategies: Anxiety - Created by the Students First Project, this two page handout is great to keep handy! 

 

20 Classroom Interventions for Students with Anxiety Disorders - Health Central gives a number of ways teachers can make the school day easier and less stressful for a child with anxiety.

 

Keys to Helping Socially Anxious Teenagers - This web page from NYU Langone helps the reader to help teenage students with social anxiety.