AnxietyAnxietyA response to stressA response to stress

Dickey LaMoure Special Dickey LaMoure Special Education UnitEducation Unit

AnxietyAnxiety AnxietyAnxiety is an emotion that is an emotion that

everyone experiences.everyone experiences. It is normal and necessary.It is normal and necessary. AnxietyAnxiety motivates us to motivates us to

confront or avoid a threat.confront or avoid a threat. It is a response to stress.It is a response to stress.

AnxietyAnxiety vs. Fear vs. Fear FearFear is focused on specific is focused on specific

objects or situations. Fear objects or situations. Fear dissipates when the object or dissipates when the object or situation is not present.situation is not present.

AnxietyAnxiety is all the anticipation is all the anticipation of future occurrences.of future occurrences.

AnxietyAnxiety vs. vs. StressStress

Stress comes from outside forces.Stress comes from outside forces.

It is all the external and/or internal It is all the external and/or internal forces that act upon us.forces that act upon us.

The degree to which the The degree to which the anxietyanxiety is is in proportion to the reality of the in proportion to the reality of the stress determines if it is helpful or stress determines if it is helpful or harmful.harmful.

Helpful or Helpful or Harmful?Harmful?

Helpful Helpful anxietyanxiety ……

spurs us to actionspurs us to action heightens our sensesheightens our senses helps us solve helps us solve

problemsproblems lets us try new lets us try new

thingsthings leads to successleads to success

Harmful Harmful anxietyanxiety ……

leads us to escapeleads us to escape causes us to freezecauses us to freeze lets problems lets problems

overwhelm usoverwhelm us prevents us from prevents us from

doing routine thingsdoing routine things leads to failureleads to failure

Symptoms of Symptoms of AnxietyAnxiety Sweaty palmsSweaty palms Rapid pulseRapid pulse Feeling of faintnessFeeling of faintness Stomach Stomach

discomfortdiscomfort Shortness of breathShortness of breath Hot or cold flashesHot or cold flashes Feeling hopelessFeeling hopeless Thought blockageThought blockage

HeadacheHeadache Chest painChest pain NauseaNausea Over- or under-Over- or under-

eatingeating Sleep problemsSleep problems Mood swingsMood swings DiarrheaDiarrhea Racing thoughtsRacing thoughts

What can we doWhat can we do

to help an to help an anxiousanxious student?student?

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

TALKTALK with the student. with the student.

Try to make him comfortable. Try to make him comfortable. Getting to know the student will Getting to know the student will develop trust and make it more develop trust and make it more likely that they will seek your likely that they will seek your

assistance in assistance in anxietyanxiety-producing -producing situations.situations.

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

LISTENLISTEN to the student to the student

By listening, you may pick up on what By listening, you may pick up on what she is thinking. This will help you she is thinking. This will help you neutralize stressful situations; and at the neutralize stressful situations; and at the same time, you will let her know you same time, you will let her know you care. Good listening involves paying care. Good listening involves paying attention, eye contact, asking relevant attention, eye contact, asking relevant questions and avoiding interruptions.questions and avoiding interruptions.

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

WATCHWATCH how how anxietyanxiety affects affects performanceperformance

You may notice a pattern. The student You may notice a pattern. The student may know the answers in casual may know the answers in casual conversation but fail the test. Knowing conversation but fail the test. Knowing what situations produce debilitating what situations produce debilitating

anxietyanxiety will help you make will help you make adjustments to help the student.adjustments to help the student.

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

RECOGNIZERECOGNIZE that the emotional that the emotional needs must be a priority.needs must be a priority.

This is a hard concept—as teachers, we This is a hard concept—as teachers, we are tuned into academics and may over-are tuned into academics and may over-emphasize academic success. However, emphasize academic success. However, to improve the academic success of an to improve the academic success of an anxiousanxious student, we must first reduce student, we must first reduce the emotional conflicts that interfere the emotional conflicts that interfere with his/her ability to succeed.with his/her ability to succeed.

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

ENCOURAGE ENCOURAGE ANXIETYANXIETY-REDUCING -REDUCING STRATEGIES:STRATEGIES: Remind the student of past successes;Remind the student of past successes; Encourage the student to ask for help;Encourage the student to ask for help; Offer tests one page at a time;Offer tests one page at a time; Model study strategies;Model study strategies; Talk through problem solving strategies.Talk through problem solving strategies.

What can we do in What can we do in school?school?

REDUCE ACADEMIC STRESS:REDUCE ACADEMIC STRESS:

Yes, academics cause stress. For an Yes, academics cause stress. For an

anxiousanxious student, when the stress is student, when the stress is too much to bear, he will shut down too much to bear, he will shut down instead of dealing with it. “Working instead of dealing with it. “Working harder” is not an option—they are harder” is not an option—they are already working hard at keeping it already working hard at keeping it together and handling stress.together and handling stress.

Ways to Reduce Ways to Reduce Academic StressAcademic Stress

Don’t put the student on the spot; Don’t put the student on the spot; Call on her when she is likely to Call on her when she is likely to

know the answer.know the answer. Help the student prepare for Help the student prepare for

changes in routine by letting him changes in routine by letting him know what to expect ahead of know what to expect ahead of time or by posting a schedule on time or by posting a schedule on the board.the board.

Ways to Reduce Ways to Reduce Academic StressAcademic Stress

Modify tests Modify tests (use word banks, use matching (use word banks, use matching

or T/F format, etc.)or T/F format, etc.). This will reduce test . This will reduce test

anxietyanxiety and thought blockage. and thought blockage. HighlightHighlight important information or important information or

give copies of notes. give copies of notes. AnxiousAnxious students often focus on details that students often focus on details that are not important or attempt to are not important or attempt to remember every detail, which remember every detail, which

increases increases anxietyanxiety..

Anxiety Anxiety is one disabling is one disabling condition that has a good condition that has a good chance of being overcome by chance of being overcome by teaching the student strategies teaching the student strategies and by making modifications.and by making modifications.

WE WANT YOU…TO HELP!WE WANT YOU…TO HELP!