WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, anxiety affects about 30% of adolescents, and that creates challenges for students in school.
Parker Singleton is in fourth grade at Quail Run Elementary School in Warner Robins, and he struggles with anxiety.
"Sometimes I feel nervous if there's like a test which we don't do often," he said.
To help him, his mom Karen Singleton keeps him on a daily routine to help him feel comfortable about what's coming next. That includes being at the bus stop a little early, so he has time to see his friends before getting on.
Singleton said he often feels nervous about possible situations throughout the day before they even happen.
"He would fear like, ‘What time am I getting home? Will somebody be there for me? What happens if I get off the bus and no one's there? What happens if the bus gets in an accident on the way home,’” she said. “All of these questions and things are going through his head. And so, he's thinking about that all day while he's trying to learn while he's trying to have fun with his friends."
To take it a step further, she communicates with the school.
"If there's someone in particular in class that's been bothering them or a noise that's bothering them or where they're sitting in class, the teachers are great about helping make sure that they're having the best day," Singleton said.
Macon therapist Bruce Conn described anxiety as more than being nervous. He said anxiety starts when a person worries about a situation that hasn't happened yet.
"Relaxation is important,” he said. “Depending on the child relaxation is body work to breathe. You might pretend with your child we're going to blow our anxiety out. We're going to blow a bubble and a bigger bubble and a bigger bubble and we're just going to release it and we're going to shake it out."
He also said talking through what your child is feeling, providing reassurance and physical activity all help lessen anxious feelings.
“Like if you're exercising, it's hard work to develop muscle,” Conn said. “And to develop a resilient personality or child, they need to experience the stress of socializing with friends.”
Singleton said her son has accommodations, like extra time on tests, as a result of communicating with the school. If you think your child is experiencing anxiety, you should reach out to their teachers and school counselor.