Anxiety Disorders And Education
What are "anxiety disorders"?
An "anxiety disorder" is a blanket term that covers everything from abnormal to pathological anxiety--fears and phobias, and inexplicable nervous conditions that affect a person's ability to socially interact with others.
What are the major symptoms of anxiety disorders?
Symptoms of anxiety disorders vary depending on the specific type of anxiety disorder, which could include everything from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Anxiety disorders are generally characterized by an inexplicable sense of panic and a desire to escape a certain stimuli or an environment. An example of an anxiety disorder is agoraphobia. A person experiencing agoraphobia would have an inexplicable fear of a certain place or certain situations and often would not even leave their homes so that they don't have to experience such situations.
How do the symptoms of anxiety disorders affect my child's ability to learn?
Depending on the type of anxiety disorder, anxiety disorders can negatively impact a student's performance in the classroom. This is because those students are constantly experiencing fear and apprehension to the point that they cannot concentrate, and often have the desire to escape. Many students with anxiety disorders typically avoid school altogether so that they can avoid the anxiety altogether.
How do you address anxiety disorder symptoms in the classroom?
Perhaps one of the most effective ways to support students with anxiety disorders is to create safe environments for them, whether it's at school or at home. Understand what their triggers are and help them to understand that they CAN be successful in their endeavors, and that making mistakes IS normal, acceptable and it's not the end of the world. It's always best to be supportive, be positive, and be understanding when working with students with anxiety disorders.
How can I emotionally support my child with an anxiety disorder?
One strategy that I use in the classroom to help students with anxiety disorders, that I actually use with all students, is to catch them being good. Whatever a student happens to be working on, if they're displaying an appropriate behavior, I give them props for that, I give them praise for that. When they're working, when they otherwise wouldn't be working I'm sure to comment that they're doing a good job. When they participate in class or I call on them and they participate I praise them for it. I just try to reinforce that what they're doing is right and that I recognize it, and it helps to creat a sense of safety.
When is it time to seek help for my child with an anxiety disorder?
Parents of children with anxiety disorders should ask for help when they notice an extreme change in their child's behavior for the worse - cutting themselves, not going to school, not eating regularly, not interacting with friends that they used to interact with, not taking part in activities that used to bring them pleasure, and suicidal ideas. These are not by any means the only things that parents should look out for, but these are some of the warning signs that they should look out for. If parents feel that their child is suffering from anxiety and that their child is becoming unhealthy as a result of it, they should contact people that could help them as soon as possible - schools, doctors.
