How can I help my 7th grader who has school anxieties and cries every morning while walking through the front door of school?

Show me another question in this topic

Anonymous asks:

My daughter, when asked, does not know why she is crying every morning at school. She doesn't know what is bothering her but just doesn't want to be in school and this is affecting her grades and she is failing. I have tried to help her but am having no success with anything that I do or try to do.

In Topics: Self esteem and identity, Teen issues, Children and stress

> 60 days ago

Report Abuse

Answer

Expert

Dr.Susan

Apr 15, 2010

Subscribe to Expert

What the Expert Says:

"School Anxiety" can have several different causes:
1. It isn't really school anxiety, but anxiety about leaving home because of unrest at home (fighting, divorce, illness or something similar) and the child is worried that while she is away during the day, something 'bad' might happen and she won't be there to help take care of it.
2. Learning issues that sometimes get worse with the challenges of middle school and make school a stressful environment.
3. The beginning of depression which might be triggered by puberty, or a specific incident in her life.
4. Social difficulties that she is hiding from you.
5. General anxiety that may also be triggered by a specific incident, could be genetic or triggered by puberty.

It is important to figure out what is causing her to feel so anxious and sad so that you can get her the best help possible. I'd suggest that you do everything possible to NOT let her stay home during the process of figuring out the cause because the more is avoids school, the harder it will be to get her back.

Begin by speaking to her school guidance counselor or the school psychologist. Then you may want to get a referral to a private therapist to help you further.

Best wishes

Dr. Susan Bartell
JustAsk Expert
www.drsusanbartell.com
Twitter @drsusanbartell
NEW book! "The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask"

Did you find this answer useful?

yes

Answer this question

Additional Answers (1)

evolutionar... writes:

I empathize with your daughter. She is obviously feeling the pressure of our competitively based education system. Because competition is so much a part of our society, we don't even question its validity or effectiveness in learning. What I would recommend for your daughter is finding out where her passion lies and have her focus on learning that subject to its absolute peak. That way she will excel in that area and will not have to worry about the competition, because she will be better than all others. In other areas she just needs to achieve competence so that she learns the basics of these areas. To learn more about my ideas please go to www.evolutionaryeducation.com.

Resources:

http://www.evolutionaryeducation.com

> 60 days ago

Did you find this answer useful?

yes

Report abuse