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Original poster

Why is there so much anxiety in kids?

313 replies

JudesBiggestFan · 23/01/2023 21:07

Spoke to a family member earlier who is a teaching assistant.
Said the number of kids off with anxiety at her high school is phenomenal. Anecdotally I know of so so many severe issues....panic attacks, school refusal etc. 'Because Covid' seems to be the answer..along with why there is so much bullying/poor behaviour in schools. Is this why or is there more to it?
My own three boys seem fine thus far, but as I'm an emergency services worker, they only missed a really minimal amount of school.
But the poor behaviour of others does impact on the classroom environment/teacher stress so still has an effect on them.
So what is the reason? And what can be done? School days are supposed to be happy and carefree and it just feels like kids are just so sad.

OP posts:
Cuppasoupmonster · 23/01/2023 21:09

Because we are overly introspective now and encourage people to dwell on and ruminate over their feelings.

WandaWonder · 23/01/2023 21:10

I wonder how much is parent driven

BeaBachinasec · 23/01/2023 21:12

We pathologise normal emotion. Shyness is labelled social anxiety, normal nervousness is labelled anxiety, feeling low is labelled depression.

Everyone being encouraged to bang on about their mental health...

It detracts from genuine suffering.

MrWhippersnapper · 23/01/2023 21:12

Lack of resilience, helicopter parenting to name two

Singleandproud · 23/01/2023 21:13

The academic pressures, the constant testing, not enough time on free time or creative subjects, shorter lunch breaks which means barely enough time to eat let alone run around and socialise. Over scheduling, under scheduling and no boundaries. Stressed parents, money worries. Take your pick and that's without taking into account the impacts of phones and social media.

BeaBachinasec · 23/01/2023 21:14

And people blaming lockdown for everything. It was really tough for some people but the majority just muddled through. Including young people who are far more resilient than they're given credit for.

FrownedUpon · 23/01/2023 21:15

Impact of Covid lockdown
Parental anxiety (anxiety passed from adult to child)
Social media

Skinnermarink · 23/01/2023 21:15

Because everything has to be something these days.

pilates · 23/01/2023 21:17

Jumping on the bandwagon

Original poster
JudesBiggestFan · 23/01/2023 21:17

Well that's what weird about lockdown. My kids have such lovely memories of it...the long hot summer, playing in the garden, having us around more, no proper schoolwork. It definitely didn't traumatise them...more gave them a lovely break. But we all experience things differently I guess and im sure for some children they were trapped in very unhappy environments.

OP posts:
ABrotherWhoLooksLikeHellMugYou · 23/01/2023 21:19

A lot of highly stressed adults is probably contributing significantly. Parents deal with COLC and post covid adjustments. Teachers ever more overworked, underpaid, thinly stretched, society is simmering with tension - can't you feel it? No wonder kids are picking up on it, alongside all the things affecting them more directly.

starfish4517 · 23/01/2023 21:19

But thanks God we are now allowed to "ruminate"!

I really don't think the good ol' times where one was just expected to get on with it we're much better Hmm

starfish4517 · 23/01/2023 21:19

Were

TheFlis12345 · 23/01/2023 21:19

I read a fascinating article a while back about this. I can’t remember the exact detail but essentially it said that said a lot of it is due to the always on nature of tech. People don’t relax, they are always looking at something and so their body is always in fight or flight mode. Kids these days literally breathe differently due to this, the body doesn’t relax and the excess adrenaline drives a lot of the anxiety related issues.

CBAironing · 23/01/2023 21:20

Children are no longer allowed to take risks. Parents swoop in to protect them.

Skinnermarink · 23/01/2023 21:20

JudesBiggestFan · 23/01/2023 21:17

Well that's what weird about lockdown. My kids have such lovely memories of it...the long hot summer, playing in the garden, having us around more, no proper schoolwork. It definitely didn't traumatise them...more gave them a lovely break. But we all experience things differently I guess and im sure for some children they were trapped in very unhappy environments.

I think you have to realise that that’s quite an idyllic lockdown you experienced though and that was certainly not the case for many of us.

starfish4517 · 23/01/2023 21:21

TheFlis12345 · 23/01/2023 21:19

I read a fascinating article a while back about this. I can’t remember the exact detail but essentially it said that said a lot of it is due to the always on nature of tech. People don’t relax, they are always looking at something and so their body is always in fight or flight mode. Kids these days literally breathe differently due to this, the body doesn’t relax and the excess adrenaline drives a lot of the anxiety related issues.

Oh yes and this. What was better when MH was not a discussed topic was indeed the ability to disconnect

Cuppasoupmonster · 23/01/2023 21:21

Hard hat on

I don’t know if anyone else has noticed but there seems to be a significant number of middle aged people (but primarily women) who have, later in life, been sucked in by the ‘feelingz’ bridgade. They’ve decided their parents were abusive (even if they were just more typical of their age group), all their exes are toxic narcs, they’ve diagnosed themselves with ND/MH conditions and now spend a lot of their time ruminating over everything and posting inspirational quotes on Facebook.

(I’m prepared to get flamed for that, but that is my experience in many people I know age 40-60).

When many parents are like this it’s not surprising the kids follow suite.

gogohmm · 23/01/2023 21:21

This was happening long before covid.
Resilience and over medicalising normal human emotions are my theory along with social media

Oblomov22 · 23/01/2023 21:22

Mn brings more anxiety ridden posters than normal ones. I don't get why there is so much anxiety. I don't know why there is much in teens.

YesYesAllGood · 23/01/2023 21:23

starfish4517 · 23/01/2023 21:19

But thanks God we are now allowed to "ruminate"!

I really don't think the good ol' times where one was just expected to get on with it we're much better Hmm

Of course, but the pendulum seems to have swung a bit too far the other way.

Eastereggsboxedupready · 23/01/2023 21:23

One of my dc was the most sociable tbh. Now a shell of a dc. At barely 16 has attempted suicide without any real reasoning. Admits to a good home life, great sibling relationships. Leaving home to attend school since July has been impossible for her therapy sessions offered but no answers. For dd or us... Long covid ticks many boxes. No official diagnosis.. Or maybe if we could actually see a GP would be a good start.

IHateFlies · 23/01/2023 21:24

I think parents are stressed and frustrated due to work and chores and lack of time and kids suffer and pick up on it.

Spendonsend · 23/01/2023 21:26

The curriculum has changed with a lot of high stakes testings and targets. When i was at school i just did the work. My son has a target from year 7 based on his sats for his predicted gcse grade and is regularly shown his data I used to get ticks and a score. Even if he gets 100% he gets an 'even better if' comment. So even if you are perfect you could try harder. Add in social media and I think it creates anxiety.

Cathod · 23/01/2023 21:34

Teachers are highly stressed and pupils pick up on it.