How School causes anxiety and depression...

School is one of the main reasons why I have anxiety and depression!

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common obstacles teens and young adults face and it’s beginning to take a serious toll in the classroom.

Every year more cases of anxiety and depression are reported in children and teens. 1 in every 8 child has anxiety, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

With so many children and teens who have undiagnosed anxiety or depression, this can negatively impact their ability to learn and enjoy their time in school. When students have anxiety and depression that goes unnoticed their mental health is at risk, which can lead to social and behavioral problems, poor performance and learning, neglected hygiene, poor self care practices and low self esteem.

What Causes Anxiety and Depression in Students?

Disorders like anxiety and depression are constantly being researched and new breakthroughs are being made every year.

However, doctors are still not sure if depression is passed on genetically or if it’s a mental illness that is solely psychological and physical. While scientists and doctors continue to explore this, there is evidence that suggests depression could be a combination of both nature and nurture.

On the other hand, a number of variables can lead to an anxiety disorder. An anxiety disorder may be prevalent if the following occur:

• When a fear/worry about a particular event or area of life is present
  

• The fear/worry is extreme compared to that experienced by peers or it is age‐inappropriate
  

• The fear/worry leads to avoidance of events
  

• The fear/worry causes significant distress and/or interferes significantly in daily activities

Since there are different kinds of anxiety, teachers should be trained to understand how to work effectively with each one. Common types of anxiety disorders are separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobia, OCD, panic disorder and PTSD.

Impact of Anxiety and Depression on Performance

Depression and anxiety affect all areas of an individual’s well-being including sleep, diet, mental and physical health, self esteem, social interaction and academic performance.

Students who have these disorders are at risk of suffering from poor academic performance and resistance to anything school-related. This can include lack of engagement in the classroom, poor relationships with peers and teachers, and disinterest in pursuing passions and planning for the future. Their learning is also affected due to the fact that anxiety and depression can impact the working memory, which makes it challenging to retain new information and recall previously learned information.

Inconsistent Academic Results Can be a Sign of Mental Health Issues

These disorders can also lead to inconsistent academic results. For example, a student may produce incredible work one day and barely be able to complete a single task the next. This unpredictable behavior is a prevalent sign that anxiety or depression might be present. The inconsistency of these disorders can leave students feeling frustrated and teachers confused and unsure how to approach the situation.

When students are depressed or are dealing with anxiety, they are more likely to disengage in the classroom.

This can cause them to participate in behaviors that will allow them to avoid certain events and situations. For example, missing class or going to the nurse during a quiz or presentation are a few ways students may demonstrate an anxiety disorder.

Missing Class Can be a Sign of Anxiety

These disorders can also lead to school refusal, or school phobia. This is when a student’s anxiety or depression is so severe that they begin avoiding going to school at all. This can begin with missing class, going home early and staying home, but eventually can lead to school drop out.

The negative impact anxiety and depression have on students’ academic performance doesn’t just hurt them and their families, but it has consequences for the economy and society as a whole because they are not receiving a proper education.

I’ve been through all of this with school. School really made my anxiety and depression bad! I’m just trying to get better by the day and just be happy!!

I really hope everyone is doing well during this crisis. And I also hope y’all are staying safe 💘.

Thanks for ready today’s blog post✨😊