Going back to school may trigger anxiety in your child. Here’s how to identify it.

By Kat Santoro, MS, NCC

Summer tends to be an exciting season for children as there is a certain thrill that comes with the ability to spend time away from school. For some students, summer break is a chance for them to rest and feel more rejuvenated for the start of the upcoming school year. However, for other students, this time of year can feel dreadful as it increases their anxiety for returning to school. There are many different reasons why a child may feel anxious about returning to school. This can interfere with their ability to attend class.

Anxiety can present as a multitude of symptoms that may not always look the same for each child. Some children express more overt signs of anxiety that can be identified by parents or teachers, but other children may have more covert symptoms that are not as easily detected.

For some children, the idea of going back to school can create so much anxiety within them that their body has no place to store it and it manifests as physical symptoms. Some of the common physical symptoms of anxiety can include stomachaches, sweating, increased heart rate, shortness of breath, tensing of the muscles, changes in eating or sleeping habits, headaches, nightmares, shaking, and even fainting.

The psychological symptoms of anxiety can include difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, anticipating the worst of a situation, irrational fears, constant worrying, and uncontrollable obsessive thoughts. Anxiety can manifest in behavioral symptoms as well. Some children may exhibit signs of social isolation, increased irritability, being so restless that they cannot sit still, and an exaggerated startle response. Since anxiety is not a one size fits all, children can have any combination of these symptoms.

The good news is that there are a multitude of evidence-based treatments available for anxiety. If parents suspect that their child may be exhibiting signs of anxiety, they have options for getting help. Parents can opt to enroll their child in individual therapy where they will get one-on-one care from a provider. There are also groups that allow children with anxiety to come together to learn coping skills in an environment with peers that may be facing a similar situation.

There are also coping skills that parents can teach at home to help their children reduce some of their anxiety. Talking about the anxiety with a trusted person in a safe space can also be beneficial. It is important that children feel they can open up about their anxiety and receive validation so that they feel less alone. Allowing the time and space for children to be vulnerable about the things that are bothering them is a great way for families to connect about the anxiety.

Additionally, research indicates that taking deep, controlled breaths can help to relax the mind and body. Other tactics that can be beneficial for reducing anxiety include exercise, meditation, journaling, and utilizing grounding skills. 5-4-3-2-1 is just one of many grounding skills that families can do together, which can help an anxious child utilize all five of the body’s senses to calm racing thoughts and pull them out of the anxiety through engaging in their surroundings. This grounding skills helps children identify 5 things they can see, 4 things they can touch, 3 things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste. Families can practice utilizing these coping skills at home so that children are able to easily recall them during anxious moments at school.

Coming back to school from summer break may trigger anxiety in some children and make it difficult for them to feel comfortable engaging in their education. Anxiety can be incredibly overwhelming for not only the child experiencing it, but also for their families. It can be particularly intimidating for those that are unfamiliar with anxiety and how it can manifest. Some families may not even be aware that it is anxiety that has been the culprit behind the various symptoms their child is displaying. Our hope is that as anxiety becomes more frequently discussed it will become easier to identify so that it can be treated.

Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) offers a youth anxiety program specifically dedicated to youth struggling with anxiety. The goal of the youth anxiety program is to help participants identify their triggers and learn coping skills so that they can overcome their anxiety. JFS youth anxiety group programs will resume at about a dozen schools and community centers throughout the state at the start of the new school year. Programs are offered at all grade levels.

JFS also offers individualized therapy for your child. There is a fee for individual therapy, but financial assistance is often available for the uninsured or underinsured.