Summer anxiety is an ordinary dynamic among adolescents and children, especially those thriving within structures based on their school routine. During summer times, many school-goers may feel baffled or directionless. Such conditions are adequate to cause seasonal affective disorder (SAD) associated with anxiety.
According to research published for the North American Psychiatric Clinics, social anxiety and worry about the school are among the two top causes of summer anxiety among elementary school-age children.
Besides, summertime anxiety has various origins, leading to mental health conditions, such as depression. Therefore, parents should be aware of this issue and find the best approaches for helping their teenagers or children handle the challenge.
Causes of Summer Anxiety
Parents and caregivers are starting to realize that failure to provide psychological, moral, attention, and even structural support similar to those used in schools can contribute to summer anxiety.
Additional causes include different routines from school, such as:
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Constant worry about the next school calendar
- Changes in eating habits
- Having new caregivers
- Absence of programs
These routines imply that summer times bring different social networks and environmental changes, which differ from what teenagers or children used to get when in school. These can also be excellent sources of stress.
Moreover, young people struggling to deal with unpredicted changes can sometimes not handle the summer transition, which increases anxiety.
Identifying Signs of Summer Anxiety among Adolescents and Children
Many parents or caregivers find it challenging to identify anxiety among their children. Usually, teenagers or children can’t clearly express or communicate their emotional concerns. It means the parents will have to pay more attention to any hidden signs existing among their teens to identify summer anxiety.
Anxiety symptoms may also manifest physically among children. These include having anger outbursts, upset stomachs, headaches, and unwillingness to contribute to activities.
Teenagers also may display similar manifestations of anxiety symptoms such as changes in appearance and cleanliness, being aggressive, antisocial behaviors, and arguments.
Most parents may decide to confront them, but it is not usually the best approach, since they may not even realize they have anxiety issues. However, the best strategies include inspiring sympathetic and caring speeches, including adjusting schedules to address their needs.
What Actions Parents Need to Take for Help
Apart from empowering discussions and support, parents can help their children or teens’ daily lives by adding significant components to overcome summer anxiety. A few examples include:
- Planning and maintaining daily schedules
- Ensuring their children are busy
- Establishing strategic family times
- Limiting on-screen times
- Incorporating extracurricular activities such as sending them to camps
Summer camps are crucial for anxious children since they help them feel preoccupied similarly to when they are in school with their friends.
For teenagers, benefits include finding a club to join or a summer task. All these are unique elements that can beneficially build predictability in schedules while addressing summer anxiety.
Final Words from the Recover
Sometimes, adolescents and children may be overwhelmed with summer anxiety to the point that they require professional help. The first step involves finding a mental health professional in a rehab directory list near you to provide anxiety treatment and recovery programs.
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