How Can Students Deal With Anxiety

The world is about to end, you are soon to die but you don't know why. You are feeling tense, anxious, nervous and you cannot find a way to calm down. The world is changing around you, it speeds up and down, you also know that everybody is thinking and looking at you. This is called an anxiety attack, and although they usually last anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, some people have been reported to suffer in this cycle throughout a whole hour(Mind, 2021).

“Anxiety is a subjective sensation that we present when faced with situations that we value as a threat or risk, either because of their novelty or unexpected nature, or because of the intensity of the stimulus. This situation alerts the brain, which is responsible for promoting the appropriate response.”(Navarro, J). Anxiety can be particularly debilitating for teenagers and young adults, as it can be a liability for their daily lives. This essay will explore how anxiety can affect school performance in teenagers and young adults, and what can be done to help.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or CAD, can affect students in various ways. One of the most common means through which anxiety can affect school performance is academic development. Anxiety causes dissipation of concentration, which can lead students to have a lack of attention in class and difficulty completing long homework assignments or tests. This ushers the incapability for students to learn the requirements for the course as well as an inability to keep up with the curriculum.

Another important concern of the problems anxiety yields in school, is the incapacity to network with peers and colleagues. For teenagers and young adults, social interactions are a crucial part of their development. Anxiety can cause students to be shy, self-conscious, and avoid social Interactions. This can create difficulty in making work or personal life relationships, as well as avoidance in group participation, which can directly affect their grades and education, which later can have an impact in their ability to learn and grow.

In addition, and highly important aspect to consider when discussing the impact of anxiety on school performance in teenagers and young adults, is the role of stress. Stress is a normal part of life and can be beneficial in small doses, as it can motivate individuals to work harder and achieve their goals. However, the existence of chronic stress can have a great part in developing anxiety disorders, “However, when long bouts of stress occur, there is an increase in cortisol and corticotropin present in the body for longer periods of time. That boost in the presence of hormones is what leads to clinical anxiety and mood disorders.”(Sambunaris. n.d.). This will create a butterfly effect and have a great long distance negative effect on the individual’s mental health, since stress can exacerbate existing anxiety symptoms and make it even more difficult for students to perform well in school. A student already tasked to cope with anxiety issues will have a difficult time having to deal with the added stress due to exams, projects, or social interactions.

Lastly, anxiety may also have a great affect on school performance through physical symptoms. Some systematic reactions that may emerge due to anxiety’s presence are; heart conditions, high blood pressure, asthma and breathing problems, stomach and gastrointestinal issues, insomnia, blood sugar spikes, decreased immune system functioning, weight gain, and chronic muscle tension(Fabian, 2022). Is pretty evident how insomnia, weight gain and gastrointestinal issues can have a direct effect on the individual’s academic progress, since these issues can make it difficult for students to focus and pay attention during lectures. In addition anxiety can cause sleep disturbances and inefficient sleep hygiene, which can lead to fatigue and struggle staying awake during the day.

It is also important to consider how all these different models of anxiety can have a defeatist influence on the student's self-esteem and self-worth. The individual may start to doubt their abilities and feel inadequate, which can lead to a negative self-image. This may create difficulties for the students to have confidence in themselves and their abilities, which can ultimately affect their motivation and engagement in school. As a result, students may avoid challenging tasks and activities, which can limit their potential for academic success.

To aid teenagers and young adults with anxiety, it is necessary to create an active measured plan that implements a comprehensive approach that includes not only therapy and medication, but also lifestyle changes and stress management techniques.

As of the writing of this essay there are a number of interventions that can be used. One of the most effective interventions is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). “CBT is based on the concept that your thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions are interconnected, and that negative thoughts and feelings can trap you in a negative cycle. CBT aims to help you deal with overwhelming problems in a more positive way by breaking them down into smaller parts.”(NHS. 2022). Numerous research and studies have shown that CBT leads to great improvement in patients and has been proven to work as well, or better, than other forms of psychological therapy and psychiatric medications. This system can assist students learn how to manage their anxiety and improve their ability to develop in school. Along this method, medically approved antidepressant and antianxiety medications can help to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. The combination of medication and therapy should be prescribed by a professional.

Furthermore, it is essential to consider the role of school counselors, teachers, and other school staff. They may be the first source of dependency by the students, and they have an adequate and unique position in identifying and addressing anxiety in students, since they interact on a daily basis with and can provide support and guidance and refer them to appropriate resources, as well as collaborate with parents and healthcare professionals. This will create a better system proof model to combat anxiety in teenagers and young adults.

Enclosure, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or CAD, is a common complex and multi-faceted mental health condition with the high capability of interfering and affecting school performance in teenagers and young adults. The impact created affects the academic development, social interactions, and physical health of the student. The addition of all this problemer may provoke high difficult for students to succeed in school. However, the right intervention can help diminish the yielding problems of anxiety. It is important to implement a comprehensive approach that includes therapy, medication, lifestyle changes, stress management techniques and the support of school counselors and staff. Although facing great difficulties, with the right interference, students may thrive and have a successful school performance even when dealing with anxiety disorder.

Bibliography

Anxiety signs and symptoms. Mind. (2021, February). Retrieved January 16, 2023, from https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/anxiety-and-panic-attacks/symptoms/#:~:text=feeling%20tense%2C%20nervous%20or%20unable,and%20are%20looking%20at%20you

SCHLATTER NAVARRO, J. La ansiedad: un enemigo sin rostro. ed. Pamplona: EUNSA, 2003. 193 p.

Sambunaris, A. (n.d.). Can stress really cause anxiety? Can stress really cause anxiety?: Dr. Sambunaris & Associates: Psychiatrists. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.drsambunaris.com/blog/can-stress-really-cause-anxiety#:~:text=However%2C%20when%20long%20bouts%20stress,clinical%20anxiety%20and%20mood%20disorders.

Fabian, R. (2022, November 28). 9 ways anxiety is impacting your physical health: Talkspace. Mental Health Conditions. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/articles/ways-anxiety-impacts-your-physical-health/

NHS. (2022, November 10). Overview - Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). NHS choices. Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/cognitive-behavioural-therapy-cbt/overview/#:~:text=How%20CBT%20works,them%20down%20into%20smaller%20parts.