Back To School: Prevent School Refusal: An Anxiety Disorder

SCHOOL REFUSAL – As school commences, parents may discover that their children refuse to attend school. School refusal describes the anxiety disorder of a child who refuses to go to school on a regular basis or has difficulty staying in school. Anxiety-based school refusal affects 2 to 5 percent of school-age children. It commonly takes place between the ages of five and six and between ten and eleven, and at times of transition, such as entering middle and high school. Students may develop serious educational or social problems if their fears and anxiety prevent them from attending school and socializing with friends for any length of time.₁ Symptoms: Children with school refusal may complain of physical symptoms shortly before it is time to leave for school or repeatedly ask to visit the school nurse. If the child is allowed to stay home, the symptoms quickly disappear, only to return the next day. In some cases a child may refuse to leave the house. Common physical symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or diarrhea. In addition, tantrums, inflexibility, separation anxiety, avoidance, and defiance may be present. Reasons: Starting school, relocating, and other stressful life events may trigger the onset of school refusal. Other reasons include the child’s fear that something negative will happen to a parent after he is in school, fear that the student will not do well in school, or fear of another student. What Parents Can Do: Parents can obtain a comprehensive evaluation from a mental health professional to determine the reasons behind the school refusal and the type of treatment that will be most effective. Meanwhile, keep your children in school. Missing school reinforces anxiety rather than alleviating it. Coping Strategies for School-Related Anxiety: • Expose children to school in small degrees, increasing exposure slowly over time. Eventually this will help them realize there is nothing to fear and that nothing bad will happen. • Talk with your child about feelings and fears, which helps reduce them. • Emphasize the positive aspects of going to school: being with friends, learning a favorite subject, and playing at recess. • Arrange an informal meeting with your child’s teacher away from the classroom. • Meet with the school guidance counselor for extra support and direction. • Utilize relaxation techniques. • Encourage hobbies and interests. Fun is relaxation, and hobbies are good distractions that help build self-confidence. • Help your child establish a support system. A variety of people should be in your child’s life—other children as well as family members or teachers who are willing to talk with your child should the occasion arise. • Learn about your child’s anxiety disorder and treatment options. A.C.T. is committed to raising awareness of the importance of assisting children with school refusal anxiety disorder. A.C.T. will provide information on tips to assist children and parents to cope with school refusal. For more information, please contact Dr. Drecun at Dr.Drecun@a4ct.com or visit us online at Association for Compassionate Transformation.