Addressing Our Students’ Anxiety

Anxiety has become a word that we hear more and more in schools. It leaves educators wondering why we are seeing such an increase and how we can address it. Seeing anxiety’s negative effect on our students increases the need to address this concern that often falls on our plate.

The increase in student anxiety is due to many factors. Some would speculate that it is due the opioid crisis and the rise in diverse family structures. Others would add that the demand of common core expectations is adding learning pressure on minds that developmentally are already at capacity. Attachment to family members and bullying are other reasons we see such an increase.

One way to address anxiety is to use Lynn Lyons’ recommendations. She recommends facing it head-on and training our brains to deal with uncomfortable feelings. When working with elementary students, you can have them draw a picture of their anxiety monster and start talking to it or yelling at it. One example she shared was a four-year-old who would not use the bathroom anywhere but at home. He was terrified of the potty. His mom got down on her knees and helped her child yell at the potty. “You are not going to get me,” “You’re not scary,” and more. After a few weeks, the child could use the bathroom anywhere.  This might seem silly for older kids, but we must teach students to have this inner dialogue, telling themselves that it will be ok. For more information on Lynn Lyons, check out her website, www.lynnlyonsnh.com.

In schools, anxiety is affecting our students in numerous ways. Across the state, we are seeing students absent from school, with days increasing, more refusal, frequent breaks, work avoidance and more. Some school staff they are handling their own anxiety and must try not to put that on the students. We often see this with parents: Mom or dad’s anxiety has now become the student’s. Regardless of where we start, we must start somewhere. Talk about it in staff meetings, send out articles and helpful tips – the goal is to decrease anxiety and increase coping skills.

Contact Jonathan Cheney, NHSCA past president, at jcheney@wrsdsau59.org.