Anxiety is real. In fact, 1 in 20 children ages 6–17 years old frequently experience severe levels of anxiety.
When you’re a student facing anxiety, traditional school can become overwhelming. There are facing crowds, dealing with drama, dreading tests, fearing to ask for help, the list goes on.
While it’s by no means a cure, online school could be a good solution for these teens.
Here’s why.
Schoolwork is done from the comfort of home
Sometimes, anxiety is debilitating enough that it causes teens not to be able to leave the house. With iSucceed, staying at home doesn’t impact a student’s ability to learn. So, if the student is having a bad day, there is a potential for them to still do work. If they can’t, they have the ability to work with teachers to catch back up within the week.
You receive individual support from teachers and guidance counselors
Asking a teacher for help can be intimidating. There’s the fear of looking dumb or even just having to talk in front of a classroom.
Online students find the lack of a physical classroom much appealing because they ask questions through email, phone calls and instant messaging. If they need extra support, the teacher can hold a 1-1 online session.
Socializing with classmates is different
Digital natives are most comfortable connecting with friends online. Social media is integrated with their lives.
So clearly, if there is a safe way for these students to connect, wouldn’t that be their preferred method?
Students at iSucceed come from all over Idaho. That opens opportunities to meet people. They also connect through online class discussions, staff-monitored chats and online student clubs. If they’d like, there are school events to attend in-person as well.
It’s quite a different method of making friends that we believe alleviates a lot of the traditional high school drama.
How to manage anxieties with school as an online student
Be open with it
Talk to your teachers and school counselors. They can’t help if they don’t know. Maybe math makes you anxious, let them know! Maybe it’s the synchronous sessions, communicate that. Together, you can create baby steps to start accomplishing goals.
Modify your life
Don’t limit yourself, simply modify. If you were to take, say, your non-service dog out, you probably wouldn’t go to a fancy restaurant. That doesn’t mean you have to be confined. There are several places you can go with your furry friend: dog park, walks, even some food places.
Anxiety is similar. There will be things that feel like limitations, but you can find ways to modify your life to manage anxiety. If you’re unsure, you have guidance counselors who can help.
Don’t isolate yourself or stop engagingÂ
There might be days where you can’t leave home. Don’t let it get to you. Isolating yourself can lead to depression. It’s going to be difficult, but try and find ways where you can engage with others.
Maybe all you can do is log in to synchronous sessions and type one message for the class to see. That’s OK; baby steps are key.
There are online student clubs available at iSucceed as well. Try joining one of those, talk with students online and then work into meeting students in person.
Remember, you have an opportunity to start fresh. Start with iSucceed.
Let it simply be a part of you that you manage daily
It’s truly OK to be anxious or to have anxiety. We all feel that from time to time. If you are someone who frequently experiences high levels of anxiety, don’t let it define you. Let it simply be a part of you that you manage daily.
We can help you overcome barriers
iSucceed has several students who came in order to overcome obstacles. Don’t let them stop you from earning your high school diploma. Whether you have to work, have a medical illness, are a teen parent or you went through trials that forced you to drop out, we can help. Don’t just take it from us; see the stories of some of our students below.
Please note: This article is not a diagnosis, nor are the tips provided meant to be a cure. If you feel you or your child is experiencing signs or symptoms of anxiety, please seek help from a medical professional.