For 15 years I have worked with young students who had emotional or behavioral disorders, often encountering students who had anxiety disorders. While all children feel anxious and nervous at times, most of these fears and anxieties are short-lived. (Example: A child has been afraid of spiders for a few months.) However, some children and adolescents feel anxious. They are so serious that they interfere with common activities.
Students with anxiety disorders often feel low self-esteem and have difficulty making and keeping friends. Unlike other disorders, young people who experience anxiety disorders are often withdrawn, calm and compliant. Because they are withdrawn, quiet, and compliant, they are often mistaken for many signs that a young person may be experiencing anxiety disorders. In fact, “Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders to occur in youth. /a>, in the cited location, US Department of Health and Human Services . (1999). Mental Health: Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services.
Some of the most common anxiety disorders experienced by young people include;
Generative Anxiety Disorder
Obsessive-compulsive
Disorder
Terror
Disorder
Phobias
Post-traumatic
Stress disorder
In the school environment, anxiety disorders may manifest in behavioral patterns that include, but are not limited to:
Tardiness and/or absence
Shout
Difficulty in transitions
Frequent interaction with peers
A strong, seasonal movement of life is a common event
If you have a student in class who is experiencing anxiety disorders, here are some ideas to help them;
Team with parenting strategies
It reinforces the completion of activities and assignments, yet allows for overtime
Communicate with your parents what you are observing
Develop and follow a regular prediction routine
If possible, decrease the homework load
Encourage the student to keep written records and due dates
Students are allowed to take a “break” (i.e. have a drink) if they seem overwhelmed
Anxiety is common among all young people, but it is common in students experiencing anxiety disorders. Modifications and adaptations are implemented in subtle, non-overbearing ways in order to place the student in a sense of dignity and responsibility. Blatant, harsh criticisms of these students will perpetuate their fear of failure and feed into cycles of anxiety and flight.
It may also be helpful to have permission to speak with any doctors who are with the child’s mental health. These teachers can help you gain a better understanding of the disorder, and work with you to develop more effective interventions for the student in your classroom. In turn, you give the mental health professional a better insight into how the child is doing in the academic setting, which can help the professional treat the child in a holistic manner.
