As adults, we don't really question why we experience anxiety. After all, we juggle so much throughout the day and week, from work to paying bills, household responsibilities, raising children, social obligations, and so much more. It's no wonder why anxiety disorders are increasingly on the rise.
It may be surprising to hear, but children and teens can also experience anxiety. Especially anxiety that revolves around school.
During the later years of elementary school, a greater emphasis begins to be placed on grades, test scores, and overall performance. There is nothing wrong with that, of course. However, that does not mean that this emphasis does not have a lasting impact on a child's psyche, especially as they grow older and begin to take more advanced classes. And then, in the later years, the focus shifts to SAT scores and getting into colleges or tech schools.
Due to this, many children and teens develop anxiety over school. Here are just four ways that anxiety can impact school performance.
4 Ways Anxiety Affects School Performance
1. Concentration Issues
When a student becomes anxious about school, it can shift their ability to focus during class or after school with homework.
Anxiety causes a negative cycle of thoughts to occur. When they are trying to focus, these intrusive thoughts are all they can think of. And, once one starts, it just spirals into a series of other thoughts. It's no different for adults and what happens when we experience anxiety throughout our day!
2. Memory Issues
Anxiety can impact the brain's ability to remember, as well. It isn't exactly clear why this happens. But, research exists that suggests it's in large part due to the changes in the brain's composition and chemicals released that cause memory issues.
For students, not remembering details about what they learned can cause them to perform poorly on test scores and homework assignments. Which just leads them to feel more anxious.
3. Decrease In Wanting To Attend School
Anxiety at any age causes someone to want to withdraw from certain social situations. After all, if you know you get anxious about something, don't you try to avoid it if you can? This is no different for students, but it manifests by not wanting to attend school.
They may complain about stomach aches or headaches more frequently. It's not that they are lying because they likely don't feel well for the most part. Their anxiety about school and other areas of their life is causing these symptoms and illnesses to happen.
As most parents know, the more they miss school, the quicker they fall behind on assignments and tests, prolonging the anxiety cycle.
4. It's Not Always Detectable
Anxiety boils underneath the surface. Because of this, it makes spotting anxiety in children really hard to spot. Adults often assume it is just everyday worries and stress related to school.
The longer it goes undetected, however, will also mean that their performance in school, sports, and other areas of their life will slowly begin to suffer.
Special attention should be paid if your child seems to experience anxiety symptoms regularly. It's normal for children to become stressed over certain aspects of school. However, the difference is when it seems to happen frequently.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions in adults, children, and teens. The good news is that it is a highly treatable condition.
Anxiety in adolescence will often trickle into adulthood and become a permanent part of their life if it is left untreated. Early detection for any mental health concern is vital.
If you believe your child is suffering from anxiety, don't hesitate to contact us for child or teen therapy. We are here to support you both when you are ready.