With summer in full swing, many families across the country are spending their weekends enjoying the outdoors, sunshine, and just soaking up every little bit of fun and relaxation they can. So, when back-to-school supplies start popping up at department stores everywhere, and every other advertisement is broadcasting that “back-to-school is almost here,” anxiety for both parents and students can skyrocket. For many, this is an exciting season. Shopping for new backpacks, reuniting with classmates, and getting back to a schedule provides many families with a sense of routine and peace that makes back-to-school a much-anticipated time of year.
However, for other parents and students (teens in particular), back-to-school anticipation is a little more than just nervousness. While a mix of excitement and nervousness is to be expected, sometimes it crosses into something much more significant: anxiety. Much more common than one might think, back-to-school anxiety can impact a person’s sleep, appetite, mood, and even their ability to function.
Whether it’s a high school student worrying about fitting in, a recent graduate preparing for college, or a parent sending their “baby” off to kindergarten, back-to-school anxiety can affect students, parents, and everyone who loves them. Together, we’ll take a close look at back-to-school anxiety and what it is, why it affects both students and parents, and teach you how to recognize the signs when someone you love (or perhaps yourself) is struggling. More importantly, we’ll offer practical ways to manage back-to-school anxiety and explore the kinds of professional support available to make the transition feel far less overwhelming. Let’s begin by getting a better understanding of what anxiety actually is.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a universal human experience that all of us go through from time to time. It is a normal and natural response to stress, designed to keep us safe. At its best, anxiety acts as an internal alert system, helping us not just to survive, but thrive. At its worst, anxiety can negatively interfere with every aspect of a person’s life. When anxiety becomes excessive, persistent, or disproportionate to the situation, it may be a sign of a true anxiety disorder that deserves attention. Surprisingly to some, back-to-school season is one of the most common times when we see natural anxieties heighten for both teens and parents. But why?
Why Back-to-School Season Triggers Anxiety
As the beginning of a new school year approaches, students and parents alike anticipate the countless changes and uncertainties it will bring. Below, we’ll look at why back-to-school season triggers anxiety in different groups.
High School Students (New and Returning)
The transition from middle school to high school is an exciting time for many teens, but it can also be scary. From academic to social pressure, teens in high school face many obstacles, including the challenge of discovering their own identities. Most teens are so worried about making friends, fitting in, and keeping up with classes that when the new school year rolls around, they become overwhelmed. Even teens who appear confident can be quietly struggling with anxiety.
Students Transitioning to College
The transition from high school to college brings a whole new set of challenges for teens. Perhaps the biggest transition a person this age has ever faced, college-bound teens often experience anxiety as they prepare to leave their home, live with strangers, and manage their own schedule and time. This doesn’t even take into account the pressure to “figure out” what they want to do the rest of their lives and the fear of disappointing the ones they love (parents, grandparents, etc.).
Parents
Back-to-school anxiety is not limited to students. Parents also experience anxiety as they worry about their children (no matter the ages), their safety, academic success, and social and emotional struggles that naturally come with growing up. Whether it’s a parent sending their first child off to kindergarten or parents sending a child off to college, the changes that accompany these life moments can produce overwhelming anxiety as parents come to terms with letting go while still wanting to protect their child.
For most of us, experiencing a little anxiety during the back-to-school season is completely normal. The trick is recognizing when this anxiety turns from a healthy stress to a true anxiety disorder with negative consequences.
Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety
Although anxiety is a universal feeling for all of us, it can show up differently in each person. It’s not always panic attacks, heavy breathing, and tears. Sometimes, anxiety reveals itself through subtle changes in physical symptoms, emotions, or behavioral changes. By recognizing the following signs early on, parents can help teens or themselves take action before anxiety becomes a problem.
Common Emotional Signs
- Constant worrying
- Racing thoughts, trouble concentrating
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Irritable, angry, “edgy”
- Tense, uptight, unable to relax
- Fearful
Common Behavioral Changes
- Avoiding interaction, school, activities, friends
- Lack of motivation
- Emotional outbursts
- Procrastinating
- Changes in sleep patterns (increased or decreased)
Common Physical Signs/Symptoms
- Headaches
- Stomaches
- Muscle tension
- Fatigue, restlessness
- Elevated heart rate
- Nausea
Parents and teens are susceptible to these emotional, behavioral, and physical changes when they experience increased anxiety as the new school year approaches. Paying attention to those around you and picking up on these signs does not mean something is wrong; it simply means that the body and mind are responding to stress and asking for help.
The earlier anxiety is recognized and addressed, the sooner an individual can get back to their normal life and thrive. When parents notice these changes in their teens, the proper response is support and understanding. Next, we’ll look at ways to help reduce anxiety as we enter back-to-school season.
Practical Ways To Reduce Back-to-School Anxiety
Anxiety cannot ever be eliminated, nor would we want it to be. However, when back-to-school anxiety begins to consume every waking moment, try the following strategies:
- Create a normal routine with consistent sleep schedules, plenty of exercise, outdoor activity, and balanced nutrition. The brain will always function better when physical needs are consistently met, not only when it’s time to head back to school.
- Stay connected with open conversation. Create an environment where teens and parents can openly share their feelings without judgment.
- Stay focused on what can be controlled. Students often feel as if they have little control, so rather than focusing on those items, they should focus on preparation, attitude, sleep, exercise, and willingness to ask for help when needed.
- When panic tries to take hold, choose to prepare instead. Visiting schools, walking classes, organizing supplies, or meeting teachers can help alleviate both the students’ and parents’ anxieties.
When parents pay attention to the subtle signs of anxiety, they are better able to help themselves and their children with meaningful intervention. However, sometimes anxieties grow and begin to interfere with daily life. In this case, professional support can make all the difference.
When Professional Support Can Help
When anxiety becomes too much, and teens and parents are unable to manage it alone, working with a qualified anxiety therapist can help. Using evidence-based therapies and mindfulness techniques to relieve stress and anxiety, professional anxiety therapy can be the key to developing personalized strategies to manage anxiety effectively. For families in northern Utah, meeting with an anxiety therapist in Layton provides professional support that is convenient, compassionate, and located in a familiar environment. Counseling can also be conducted through online sessions, making it more accessible for busy parents or college students living away from home. The goal is never to eliminate anxiety, but instead, help people develop the confidence and skills to respond in a healthy way to back-to-school stressors.
Small Steps, Big Changes: Overcoming Back-to-School Anxiety
As the back-to-school season approaches, don’t let anxiety steal your peace and excitement. Anxiety does not have to overshadow this new and exciting time of year. For teens heading to high school, young adults heading off to college, or the parents guiding them along the way, anxiety is a normal part of the experience. But when it starts taking a toll, affecting how you feel, emotionally and physically, pay attention. When the early signs of back-to-school anxiety begin to creep in, encourage action. Teens and parents can both move through these important transitions by leaning on supportive relationships and seeking professional help when needed. Every new school year will bring new challenges, but it also brings so much more: an opportunity to grow stronger, be resilient, and discover that you, in fact, have control of your anxiety, not the other way around.