ANXIOUS KIDS? MUST MEAN IT’S BACK TO SCHOOL TIME

New York, NY (August 15, 2005) – As summer draws to a close, some parents may notice the tell-tale signs of school-induced anxiety in their kids. Most kids usually get excited about buying new school clothes and supplies, and look forward to seeing their friends. For others there is marked anxiety about having to face new teachers, meeting new kids and finding the classroom. These feelings may be summed up as a sense of impending doom related to the unknowns of the coming school term.

Child psychologist and anxiety expert Dr. Anne Marie Albano of the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center says, “This type of excessive worrying in kids should not be dismissed. While it is normal to have butterflies about what new responsibilities and expectations 10th grade may bring, night sweats and disturbed sleep leading up to the first day of school is not your garden-variety nervousness.” She adds, “Kids with anxieties aren't able to look towards school in a positive way, they are just plain scared about what could go wrong or how bad things can get when in school. For these kids, anxiety takes over and they are unable to settle in for the school year.”

Talking to the child’s pediatrician may be a helpful first step. He or she can help determine whether or not the child’s symptoms are associated with an anxiety disorder and, possibly, recommend a child psychologist or psychiatrist to carry out a detailed assessment.

“For a child who’s simply nervous about the new school term, it may just be a question of what can the parent do to boost that child’s self-confidence,” Dr. Albano said. “In this case what works for an adult, may work for the child: refocusing their thinking and challenging negative thoughts, deep breathing exercises and positive reinforcement from mom and dad.”

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