ANXIETIES Back to School When the school year approaches, anxiety is inevitable. Whether being let out late. But pressure on students isn’t
but one thing for sure is that coming back to school for a new year is nerve wracking. Juggling homework, sports and relationships can be difficult for teenagers. When faced with seven classes it’s easy to get behind and start turning in homework late more often. Most students try to do all their work at school but sometimes it isn’t enough time to take care of everything within a 51 minute time span. This leads to the need to break into personal time to finish assignments which is especially hard for students with extracurriculars due to practices
they’re a freshman beginning their high school experience or a senior preparing for their final school year students are bound to go through stressful situations. Some students find these years to come easier than others. “A lot of the time, anxiety feels like a mini goblin inside of my brain pressing all of my bad buttons,” Carolina Juarez, freshman, said. Students report feeling anxious about the new school year. Everyone experiences these feelings differently,
solely based on classes either, it’s hard this day in age to fit in with the constant change in trends and what’s considered cool or not. Students claim they have a few close friends who really keep things good for them. So when you have even just one or two close friends it’s easier to feel less like you have to fit in. “Having good friends as a support group is a helpful resource when dealing with things.” Landon Broxterman, senior, said.
Professional Point of View Eric Fitzmorris, social worker, works with students dealing with issues that they want to talk about. “School is a place where you can talk about mental health and maybe avoid some mental health issues that can be exacerbated by being at home, being online and being on social media. It can help you get some language to talk about things and meet other people who are experiencing the same kind of struggles. There’s lots of evidence out there how these social interactions and opportunities like sports can be a positive factor in your life rather than a negative one,” Fitzmorris said. As a social worker, Fitzmorris notices these signs of anxiety in students. “I’ll notice students having trouble getting up in the morning due to that first initial anxiety kick. Avoiding getting out the door and to certain classes and feeling like you can’t get started on homework is a pretty common sign,” Fitzmorris said.
Eric Fitzmorris, social worker
Focusing on finding support and coping mechanisms for anxiety is important. “Staying active and doing the things you like to do even if you’re not feeling it that day is vital. Do it because that’s what makes you you. Do the things that you know will make your day feel better,” Fitzmorris said. Speaking up is one of the most important tools to use when struggling with mental health issues. “Know that it’s normal to be worried to speak up. Just make sure you’re using your natural supports, whether it’s your parents, grandparents or even just your best friend. There’s also a number of staff here including the counseling center and we’ve got a great bunch of teachers too, they’ll listen,” Fitzmorris said.
6 | Mental Health 6 | Mental Health
Written and designed by Mia Harper
Designed by Mia Harper
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