Advice For School-Related Anxiety

The advice columnists went and discussed anxiety between students with Ms. Maryam and Lewis McBain.

It starts with your outlook on exams, they are designed to highlight your strengths and identify gaps in your knowledge or things you can improve on. They are a guide on how to move forward.

Your support system is there to help you along the way, including student support services such as counselling and learning support.

Steps to overcoming:

• Focus on one thing at a time, make a timetable, organise yourself.

• Complete your tasks in chronological order.

• Take frequent breaks.

• Assess everything you’ve done.

• Music can definitely help some people (listening or playing).

• Continue to do the things you enjoy.

• Call a friend when you really need someone to talk to.

Typically for hypersensitive kids:

• Grounding exercises can help with calming down. These include deep breathing, walking, or using a sensory toy.

Things to always remember:

• Try and stay in the present, don’t overthink too much into the future.

• Everyone gets it (anxiety) one way or another.

• Try and be open about how you’re feeling, it’s so important to talk.

Things not to say when someone tells you they’re suffering through/think they have anxiety:

• Don’t just say it's okay, listen and try to understand.

• Don’t push people away, don’t dismiss them when they are opening up to you about something that is important to them.

Human resources:

• You can go to Ms. Maryam, the student-led peer guidance mentors, or Mr. Belcher.

• Heads of Year and the assistants.

• Any of your trusted friends.

Remote learners:

• You can Gmail (even anonymously) to: support360@thebsbh.com

Nada Al Mosheky, 12A

Sophia Allam, 11A