Anxiety A response to stress James River Special Education Unit.
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Transcript of Anxiety A response to stress James River Special Education Unit.
AnxietyA response to stress
James River Special Education Unit
Anxiety Anxiety is a response to
stress. It is an emotion that
everyone experiences. It is normal and necessary. Anxiety motivates us to
confront or avoid a threat.
Anxiety vs. Fear Fear is focused on specific
objects or situations. Fear dissipates when the object or situation is not present.
Anxiety is all the anticipation of future occurrences.
Anxiety vs. Stress
Stress comes from outside forces.
Stress is all the external and/or internal forces that act upon us.
The degree to which the anxiety is in proportion to the reality of the stress determines if it is helpful or harmful.
Helpful or Harmful?
Helpful anxiety …
spurs us to action
heightens our senses
helps us solve problems
lets us try new things
leads to success
Harmful anxiety …
leads us to escape
causes us to freeze
lets problems overwhelm us
prevents us from doing routine things
leads to failure
Symptoms of Anxiety Sweaty palms Rapid pulse Feeling of
faintness Stomach
discomfort Shortness of
breath Hot or cold
flashes Feeling
hopeless Thought
blockage
Headache Chest pain Nausea Over- or under-
eating Sleep problems Mood swings Diarrhea Racing thoughts
What can we do
to help an anxious student?
What can we do in school?
TALK with the student.Try to make him comfortable.
Getting to know the student will develop trust and make it more likely that they will seek your assistance in anxiety-producing situations.
What can we do in school?
LISTEN to the studentBy listening, you may pick up on
what she is thinking. This will help you neutralize stressful situations; and at the same time, you will let her know you care. Good listening involves paying attention, eye contact, asking relevant questions and avoiding interruptions.
What can we do in school?
WATCH how anxiety affects performance
You may notice a pattern. The student may know the answers in casual conversation but fail the test. Knowing what situations produce debilitating anxiety will help you make adjustments to help the student.
What can we do in school?
RECOGNIZE that the emotionalneeds must be a priority.
This is a hard concept—as teachers, we are tuned into academics and may over-emphasize academic success. However, to improve the academic success of an anxious student, we must first reduce the emotional conflicts that interfere with his/her ability to succeed.
What can we do in school?
ENCOURAGE ANXIETY-REDUCING STRATEGIES: Remind the student of past
successes; Encourage the student to ask for
help; Offer tests one page at a time; Model study strategies; Talk through problem solving
strategies.
What can we do in school?
REDUCE ACADEMIC STRESS:
Yes, academics cause stress. For an anxious student, when the stress is too much to bear, he will shut down instead of dealing with it. “Working harder” is not an option—they are already working hard at keeping it together and handling stress.
Ways to Reduce Academic Stress
Don’t put the student on the spot;
Call on her when she is likely to know the answer.
Help the student prepare for changes in routine by letting him know what to expect ahead of time or by posting a schedule on the board.
Ways to Reduce Academic Stress
Modify tests (use word banks, use
matching or T/F format, etc.). This will reduce test anxiety and thought blockage.
Highlight important information or give copies of notes. Anxious students often focus on details that are not important or attempt to remember every detail, which increases anxiety.
Anxiety is one disabling condition that has a good chance of being overcome by teaching the student strategies and by making modifications.
WE WANT YOU…TO HELP!