Are You Feeling Overwhelmed With School This Year?
How can you prepare for school this year?
It’s hard to plan for anything these days and you might notice feelings of anxiety or overwhelm more often than you have before. With school back in session, your kids are likely feeling this too. School looks very different from years past, so the typical anxieties you might be used to managing have likely changed as well.
Give yourself time to adjust.
We all get used to certain routines and schedules and for a lot of families, going back to school in the fall is a part of a schedule that everyone is familiar with. This year though, you might be adjusting to virtual learning, shorter class days or weeks, smaller class sizes, etc., and those changes can bring a lot of anxiety.
It’s important to remember that everyone is experiencing these changes and no one expects you to be fully prepared for them. You have to give yourself and your kids the time to adjust. Every new experience comes with new challenges and it’s okay to feel a little uncomfortable!
Even though it may feel difficult to plan ahead, there are still ways to prepare, even with all the unknowns.
If your school has announced new social distancing guidelines in the classrooms, try scheduling a walk through before school starts so your kids know what to expect. If you know masks are required, practice using masks at different times at home, like while playing video games or doing something fun. Review what went well with online learning last spring and what didn’t feel so good, and try and build in some problem solving steps ahead of schedule.
Feeling like you need some parent support?
Our parent coaching program is like therapy for parents, helping you come up with a plan for how to handle school related stress, yours and your child’s.
Focus on the things you are in charge of.
There are so many things that feel out of our control right now, so it’s important to find the things that can ground us. What are the things that help you and your family have a good school year? Are there things from years past that you can still incorporate into this new form of learning? Maybe it’s having a few moments in the morning to talk about something you’re looking forward to that day, a surprise note in a lunchbox or maybe it’s enjoying a snack together after school and watching a favorite show. Try and find those moments that bring a strong base to return back to when things seem overwhelming.
Don’t underestimate the importance of relaxation.
We know that anxiety can lead to angry outbursts, irritability and panicked thoughts so it’s important to remember to breathe. Relaxation helps us slow down and shift our focus to something other than what’s causing us those anxious thoughts. Scheduling regular time to meditate, or even just practicing a few deep breaths, can help lower stress levels throughout the week. Below are a few of our favorite meditations to help get you started!
It’s always okay to ask for help! Whether that’s therapy for parents or kids.
This school year is very different and it might even be the first time you or your child have ever experienced anxiety. You may need a little extra help in finding the best way to manage those feelings. That’s where a therapist can really dive in and explore what’s been going on and help handle your overwhelm.
All of our therapists at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis have experience working with kids, teens and college students experiencing feelings of anxiety and anger. We also can help connect parents to resources as well, because we know this time isn’t just overwhelming for your kids - it’s overwhelming for everyone.
You’re going to get through this year, no matter what. It’s going to look different from anything we’ve ever experienced before. And we know that we can rise to the challenge. You’ve got this!
Lauren Goldberger is a MSW student at University of Missouri St. Louis, and the administrative assistant and intake coordinator at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis. Curious to hear more, or are you a little reluctant about counseling? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. You can set up your free phone screening to see if we’re a good fit for your needs right on our website.
Thumbnail image provided by: Jessica Lewis
This post was originally published September 27, 2020 and updated March 2, 2023.