School anxiety

[justlookingforsomehelp]

Hello mumsnetters, I am reaching out for some help. I am 16 years old and going to sixth form in September so I am not sure if I should be posting on here but I am looking for some advice from more experienced people. I have never really enjoyed school but since Covid I have become very fearful of it. I have become overwhelmed by the number of people in the majority of classes, the noise, the going out of buildings and upstairs; I absolutely hate feeling like someone is following me in those situations, just the general crowded feeling that school settings give. Sometimes I just zone out in class for a minute and all I can hear is noise and it is horrible.

I am not sure what to do about the fear of school. I feel nervous just thinking about going everyday and I have cried over it and hyperventilated which sounds overreactive and I know it probably is but it is how I feel about it. I am worried about going to sixth form and looking for some advice. Not going probably isn't an option or at least my mother would not support me in that decision. I am just wondering how to cope with it. I am already worried because somebody has told me the only biology teacher is my year 9 one and I did not understand any of his teaching so I am worried I will fail. Thank you for reading this. I appreciate any replies.

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Hi @justlookingforsomehelp

I'm sorry you're feeling anxious but you're not alone there are so many people with anxieties like yours, it's been tough with Covid and life changing so much recently.

Have you told anyone how you are feeling? Do you have any family members or friends you can open up to?

My ds is younger than you but he is having the same issue with the transition to high school in September, there is help and support out there, his school are being supportive and we have a therapist now too which is helping him understand his feelings and work through the anxiety.

There's lots of online support and confidential services out there, places like young minds and kooth- have you had a look at any of those?

And could you talk to your mum? I know as a parent I want my dc to be able to be honest about how they feel and what they are anxious about so I can try and support them, maybe your mum can help if she knew how you really feel?

Hopefully there will be some other posters along soon with some help and advice too.

Hi 😊 I am a secondary school teacher and there are lots of students who feel this way. It's very hard and very normal. The first thing to remember is that you are not alone!

The very best thing to do is to tell someone in real life. If this is super awkward then get someone else to do it for you. Sometime it just takes a friend to say 'X wants to talk to you about...' And the ice is broken!

In schools we can usually do things like provide safe spaces or time out for people struggling with anxiety. There's usually a school counsellor who can help you develop strategies to manage your anxiety.

Please tell someone. It might scary and awkward but you just have to take one deep breath and feel awkward for about 2 seconds before it feels better!

Thanks for the replies. Sorry I haven't replied to them till now, mumsnet didn't notify me about them for some reason. I shall take the talking to others more about it into consideration. My mum already knows I feel nervous in school so she's letting me leave secondary two weeks early after I've done my GCSE assessments. I will speak to her more about my anxiety if it continues into sixth form, which it most likely will as it's a new school entirely. There are no sixth forms in any secondaries in my town at all, only a college. Again thank you for the advice.