4 Ways to Ease Back-to-School and Autumn Anxiety

Middle schoolers aren’t the only ones who feel the jitters as school reopens every year. Most people I know have trouble as summer draws to a close and autumn begins. All of the stress and transition required to accommodate new schedules, activities, and schools can throw off the limbic system (your emotional center) of even the most grounded creatures. In fact, Ginny Scully, a therapist in Wales, said in an interview so many clients with feelings of anticipation and nervousness during the last week of August through the first weeks of September that she coined the term “autumn anxiety,” which I’ve written about before. Here are some strategies to use if your autumn anxiety spikes as you’re sending your son or daughter off to a new school, or as your nervous system panics a little as it feels the change in temperature and sunlight. 1. Differentiate Between Signals and Noise In his book Stopping the Noise In Your Head, Reid Wilson, PhD, director of the Anxiety Disorders Treatment Center in Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina, explains the difference between a signal and noise. A signal is a legitimate worry that is prompting you to take action. It’s “useful” anxiety: an alarm that says, “Hey, something isn’t right — fix it!” Dr. Wilson gives this example as a signal: “I have a final paper due before dinner on two texts I haven’t read! And I haven’t started!” Noise, on the other hand, is not productive or useful. It’s merely s...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Alternative and Nutritional Supplements Anxiety and Panic Mental Health and Wellness Parenting Self-Help Alternative Medicine Anxious Thoughts autumn anxiety Back To School Depression Diet Healthy Eating School stress Source Type: blogs