Counsellor's Corner
Mrs Ebony Kriedemann
Anxiety and "Fight or Flight"
Hi everyone!
On Wednesday night we had the pleasure of hearing from Dr Joyce Chong, a Clinical Psychologist who addressed parents about anxiety and how it affects young people.
Today, I would like to share some of Dr Joyce’s insights and tips on how anxiety can impact your studies and what you can do to manage it.
Before we get started, here is a handout from Dr Joyce on how anxiety affects your studies - take a look, they have some fantastic resources!
What Is "Fight or Flight"?
This is your body’s natural reaction to stress, developed long ago to help people respond to danger. While it was great for keeping humans safe from physical threats back in the day, our bodies now react the same way to modern stressors, like exams or schoolwork. Anxiety can activate this response, making you feel like you either need to escape the situation ("flight") or fight against it.
How Does "Fight or Flight" affect your studies?
When you are anxious, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode, which can make it hard to concentrate or stay calm. This response can cause physical symptoms—like a racing heart or sweaty palms—that make it difficult to focus on your studies. You might find it harder to concentrate, get stuck in a loop of worrying, or even avoid schoolwork because it feels too overwhelming.
Here are some ways it might show up:
• Lack of focus
When your brain thinks you’re in danger, it’s hard to stay focused on a math problem or history lesson. Anxiety makes it hard for your mind to slow down and absorb information.
Avoidance:
This is your body’s "flight" response. You might start putting off assignments or avoiding studying because the task feels too stressful to face.
• Physical tension:
Anxiety can make your muscles tense up or cause headaches and stomach aches, which can distract you from your schoolwork.
Some strategies for calming the "fight or flight" response and improving focus include:
• Deep breathing exercises:
Simple breathing techniques can help calm your body and signal to your brain that everything’s okay. Take a few deep, slow breaths when you start to feel anxious.
• Break tasks into smaller steps:
Large assignments can feel overwhelming, but breaking them down into smaller, more manageable steps can help. Focus on just one small task at a time.
• Ground yourself in the present:
If you’re feeling anxious, try grounding techniques, like focusing on your five senses. This can help bring you back to the present and calm your mind.
• Talk to someone you trust:
Whether it is a parent, teacher, or myself as school counsellor, talking through your worries can help reduce anxiety and make the situation feel more manageable.
Remember, anxiety is a normal response to stress, but it doesn’t have to control your learning. The key is learning how to recognise when anxiety is affecting you and practicing strategies to calm your mind and body. If you need any extra support, feel free to reach out —I’m here to help!
Mrs Ebony Kriedemann
School Counsellor