Every year, more than 68 million students of every age find themselves worrying endlessly about that first day of school, even before it begins. Their hearts race, their stomachs turn and their palms sweat just thinking about getting on the school bus for the first time, that first surprise quiz, or that notoriously strict teacher. For parents of these children, nothing can be more upsetting than dropping their kids off on the first day of school, wondering how they will cope. Now, they can stop worrying and start helping. As a seasoned psychotherapist, Diane Peters Mayer has successfully treated hundreds of elementary and high school students suffering from this common and serious problem. In "Overcoming School Anxiety", she shows parents how to deal with a wide variety of concerns from the fear of leaving home and refusal to go to school, to bullying and school violence and the fear of speaking up in class. Mayers also offers easy-to-learn exercises and techniques, including breathing and relaxation exercises for children of all ages, focusing techniques, and tips on proper diet and exercise that help relieve stress. Filled with real-life examples as well as proven advice for working with teachers, principals and counselors, this is the only comprehensive guide that will enable every parent to help their child cope, build confidence and succeed in school. About the AuthorDiane Peters Mayer, MSW (Doylestown, PA), has been psychotherapist in private practice for more than 15 years. She specializes in working with children and adults who have anxiety attacks, school anxiety and panic attacks. Table of Contents<html> CONTENTS Foreword by Deirdre Shaffer xv Preface xvii Acknowledgments xix How to Use the Overcoming School Anxiety Program xxi CHAPTER 1 * What Is School Anxiety? 1 anxiety is a normal aspect of being human * positive and negative effects on mental and physical functioning * definition of school anxiety and discussion of symptoms * causes and effects of school anxiety * short- and long-term effects of school anxiety CHAPTER 2 * Anxiety Is a Mind-Body Experience 10 examination of stress and children's reaction to stress * physiological effects of anxiety * discussion of the nervous system * fight-or-flight and relaxation responses * matching physical, mental, and emotional anxiety symptoms to physiological changes * reasons for chronic anxiety * development of an anxiety disorder * guidelines for professional help * list of common anxiety disorders * ways to help children deal with stress CHAPTER 3 * Help! My Child Won't Go to School 20 causes and effects of school refusal * discussion of why leaving home can be difficult * childhood fears of parents dying while child is at school * childhood worries about not "fitting in" * definition of separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and its symptoms * guidelines for preventing and easing the anxiety of school refusal * exercises, techniques, and parental guidelines CHAPTER 4 * My Child Can't Stop Worrying 31 sources of childhood worry (testing, homework assignments, teachers, socializing) * explanation of chronic worry and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) * effects of worry on school performance * tips to help children stop worrying * exercises, techniques, and parental guidelines CHAPTER 5 * My Child Panics and Avoids Situations 42 definition of panic disorders and symptoms * causes and effects of panic * discussion of agoraphobia and its effect on attending school * tips on helping children cope with panic * exercises and examples CHAPTER 6 * My Child Fears People, Places, and Things 55 definitions of social phobia and simple phobia and explanation of childhood symptoms * causes of phobias * examination of phobia's effects on school experience * information on types of professional treatment * exercises and techniques to help stop phobias * tips for creating a systematic desensitization program * guidelines for helping children cope with phobias CHAPTER 7 * My Child Has Homework Anxiety 67 guidelines if child dreads homework * how to ease homework anxiety * creating a comfortable homework space * breaking down the homework load * answers to common questions for parents of a school-anxious child * exercises and techniques for conquering homework anxiety * tips for making learning exciting for children CHAPTER 8 * My Child Has Test Anxiety 77 definition of test anxiety and discussion of its symptoms * how test anxiety builds up * explanation of physical, mental, and emotional effects of pretest anxiety * symptoms of test anxiety * exercises, test-taking techniques, and parental guidelines CHAPTER 9 * My Child Is a Perfectionist 88 definition of perfectionism * characteristics and causes of perfectionism * link between perfectionism and anxiety * guidelines to help children become less rigid in their thinking and ease the anxiety associated with perfectionism * exercises and techniques include learning how to relax, "letting go," and practicing making mistakes CHAPTER 10 * Building Your Child's Self-Esteem 100 definition of self-esteem and self-worth * causes of low self-esteem * negative self-talk * guidelines to build up a child's self-esteem * easy projects and exercises for parents and children to work on together * tips on how to use a child's strengths to build self-esteem CHAPTER 11 * My Child Is Being Bullied 112 definition of bullying * differences between girl and boy bullies * link between bullying and school anxiety * how to help children cope with bullies * when to step in to help your child and when to contact the school * what to do if your child is the bully * exercises to help children take control of the bullying situation * how to help your school enact an antibullying program CHAPTER 12 * Parental and Family Conflict and Issues 123 types of family conflict that create anxiety and lead to school anxiety * unique ways children handle family conflict * symptoms of family conflict such as anxiety, behavior problems, and poor grades * guidelines to help a child deal with divorce, death of a parent, and moving to a new home and school CHAPTER 13 * My Child Has Learning, Physical, or Emotional Challenges 135 physical and learning challenges that make the school experience difficult * link between learning challenges, physical challenges, and anxiety * information on how to prepare children for the school environment academically and emotionally * tips and exercises to teach children how to cope and thrive at school CHAPTER 14 * Learn to Breathe to Feel at Ease 147 breathing and anxiety * explanation of belly breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) and its positive effect on the relaxation response * physical, mental, and emotional effects of belly breathing * how belly breathing can stop school anxiety * guidelines and instructions for practicing belly breathing * how to use belly breathing in stressful school situations CHAPTER 15 * "Be Present" for School Success 159 how to live in the moment * how being in the moment can reduce school anxiety for test taking, homework, or speaking up in class * guidelines for practicing living in the moment * instructions for teaching children to live in the moment * exercises for a variety of school situations CHAPTER 16 * Learning to Let Go and Flow 169 teaching your child to face fears to reduce anxiety * description of the whiteknuckle response and how it increases your child's school anxiety * instructions on helping your child ride out anxiety when it surfaces in school * how to help your child to "loosen and float" at school * guidelines for loosening anxiety's grip on your child's mind * exercises for facing fears and letting them go CHAPTER 17 * Eat Right to Feel Right 180 link between nutrition and increased or decreased anxiety * effects on school performance of a child's diet that is high in processed and fatty foods * how vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause anxiety * guidelines for choosing a diet to help prevent and ease anxiety * types of professional help available for parents * suggestions for helping your school change its lunch menus and snacks * studies showing how diet can help decrease anxiety and behavioral problems CHAPTER 18 * Getting Physical with Your Child 191 how exercise reduces anxiety * why exercise has a positive effect on anxiety and anxiety disorders * description of kinds of exercises paired with developmental stages * guidelines for beginning an exercise program for your child, yourself, and even your whole family CHAPTER 19 * What Are Traditional Medical Treatments for Children? 201 discussion of traditional medical treatments such as medication and numerous psychotherapies * use of antidepressants in children * what happens in a psychotherapist's or psychiatrist's office * types of mental health practitioners who practice therapy * kinds of therapy available for children * discussion of the downside of psychotropic medications for children CHAPTER 20 * What Are Alternative Treatments for Children? 211 description of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) * discussion of yoga, herbs, and acupuncture * practitioners of CAM such as holistic medical physicians and alternative practitioners Wrap-Up 221 Resources 223 Index 225 About the Author 233 Reviews"Remarkably well written, and with the average parent in mind comprising her primary readership, Diane Peters Mayer presents a superb 'primer' concerning an oft described (but usually poorly interpreted) familiar topic of general interest to many (if not all ?) parents." --Metapsychology Online Reviews |
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