Ask Jigsaw: Anxious and nervous at school

Wednesday, 30 September 2020

I want to know why i can’t bring myself to want to go to school. i am a very social person at times and i don’t have any problems besides the few subjects but everyone has that problem. i feel very unmotivated, uncomfortable, anxious and extremely nervous at school. i was just brought home from school due to the fact i got sick because of the nervousness and anxiety. I want to be able to enjoy school but i don’t know how

-emily k

Hi emily k,

You are not on your own with this. We have heard from many young people who have started to experience anxiety as they start back to things like school and socialising. It’s great that you want to get back to enjoying school, and are looking for ways to do that.

Why do I feel like this?

It sounds like you are wondering why these feelings have started for you now. It might be helpful to take a step back and recognise that you have been through a really unusual and challenging experience with the pandemic and lockdown. Even if it felt ok at the time, the impact of this experience may surface in ways or at times we don’t expect.

Although the pandemic may or may not have contributed to what you are feeling now, there could be other reasons, or no clear reason at all. Regardless of why you have started to feel the way you do, there are ways to begin to manage those feelings.

Emma

Jigsaw clinician

By practicing some new coping skills, you might find that school starts to become a bit easier for you.

Anxiety Management

A helpful place to start is by finding out more about anxiety and ways to manage it. Read more here about practical information about managing anxiety and exercises that you can try out yourself.

It’s often said, but it really is true, that speaking to someone helps. Sharing your thoughts on the worries that you’re facing about school, can really help you to make sense of it all.

It sounds like school was a very happy place for you before, and it will be again. By practicing some new coping skills, you might find that school starts to become a bit easier for you.

Take care,

Emma

Jigsaw clinician