School refusal strategies that are useful
Any time that you want to be sure you are remaining open and supportive of your teenager, you need to be sure that you do the best you can to remain engaged in their school life. Many teenagers who suffer from severe anxiety refuse to go to school. Because of this, you will need to learn some school refusal strategies to help your child trough this anxiety in ways that make the most sense.
Consider some of these strategies in order to be sure that you get the most out of these strategies.
The Best Teenage Anxiety School Refusal Strategies
#1: Take Your Teenager To A Psychologist
One of the most practical steps you can take is to get your child an appointment with a psychologist; this is especially if anxiety and school refusal persists. Getting one of these appointments will provide your teenager with the understanding and strategies they require in order to cope with anxiety. This will help them to work through their feelings of anxiety and will make these feelings clear and manageable. A psychiatrist may also be able to provide a teenager with a prescription for anti-anxiety medicine in more severe situations.
#2: Speak With Them About Their Fears
You need to be sure that you are growing and bonding with your teenager through these difficult stages in their development. By trying to leave the lines of communication open, you will best be able to grow with them and understand them more. Be sure that you ask your teenager about what it is that they are anxious about. Even if you or they do not come up with any specific answers or ways to help, your teenager will feel appreciative that they are just asked and heard. Make it a point to do things with your teenager on a frequent basis as this may help to reduce their anxiety and possible feelings of insecurity.
#3: Help Them To Find Inner Relaxation
A factor in many anxiety conditions is the inability to relax. If you want to be sure that you are able to help your teenager relax, there are a variety of steps that you can take and activities to engage them in. Yoga is an excellent step to take in terms of finding great relaxation. This incorporates both the mind and the body and brings a sense of peace that few exercises do. You should also teach meditation and give your teenager plenty of resources to learn all about it. If you want to strengthen the parenting bond between you and them, you can even engage in yoga and meditation with them. Make your home a place of peace so that your teenager can find peace and relaxation anytime that they are home. You may even consider ditching the TV for a while.
#4: Be Sure They Are Eating, Sleeping And Exercising
Take an inventory of the way that you and your children are eating, sleeping and exercising. A poor diet and lack of sleep can contribute to learning problems and poor emotional health. In addition to raising blood pressure, this can also build up cortisol in your body which is known as the stress hormone. Make sure that your home is filled with healthy and nutritious food, that your teenager is getting eight hours of sleep and help them figure out a physical activity that will allow them to exercise on a regular basis.
#5: Help Them Find Some Group Support
Any time you are helping someone with a life change, support is incredibly important. For this reason, you might do well to find your teenager a support group that they can lean on. This way, they can help each other deal with these anxieties in a supportive group setting and will be able to move past them accordingly. This will be a consistent step to take which will allow your teenager to diminish these fears and help to re-engage with social relationships.
#6: Get Out And About In The Environment
There is nothing like a little bit of time in nature to ease a person’s anxiety. Take your child out into the environment for hiking, a swim or some time out fishing or enjoying nature. A little bit of sunlight and time in nature will create a sense of peace in your teenager, allowing them to buffer anxiety symptoms in a positive way.
#7: Speak To The School Counsellor
When you want to be involved in the process, always be sure that you develop a rapport with the school counsellor. This way, you are taking a team approach and can have support while your child is at school.
As you can see, it can be challenging to have a teenager that is dealing with serious anxiety. By working your way through these strategies, you will be able to help your teenager get back on track with their school, since much of their future rides on their education. Be sure that you try each of these points and do not hesitate to reach out to a professional who can help you and your teenager through this difficult time.