As school children head back to school this week across the UK, stress levels are high. Many kids have been out of class rooms since March, and while some are happy to be back to playgrounds and school lunches, others would prefer to stay learning remotely. This year, the challenges and pressures of school may feel magnified for many students, occurring alongside the ongoing pandemic which has completely changed their lives in the last 6 months. These extra challenges may have led to the lower subjective ratings of happiness and well-being; however, children all over the world have had to adapt over the last few months.
The way children and teens express anxiety and stress is different to adults. Mood patterns may change and children may withdraw or be irritable. Younger children may show a regression in their behaviour, acting like they’re younger than they are or being excessively clingy. In the classroom, students who once were active participants may become less vocal or start submitting their work late or not at all.
A 2015 study by the Children’s World Project found that more than a third of English children said they had been bullied in school, and half had felt excluded. The report found that children, especially teenage girls, were unhappier and more anxious than they had been in previous studies. The 2020 edition placed UK children at the bottom of the table for subjective well-being. That means that UK school-aged children are self-reporting that they are among the least happy children in the world.
Clinical hypnotherapy can offer a non-invasive treatment for worries, anxieties and general life dissatisfaction, which results in children being able to cope easier with life’s pressures, including school and exams.
The National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) – which has the largest register of qualified hypnotherapists in the UK – says while it is natural to have some fears and anxious moments, anxiety is a fear or concern that is exaggerated, and is out of proportion to the situation. However, for the child experiencing it, in the moment it doesn’t feel as though it’s out of proportion at all.
“It is an adrenaline response that causes your heart to beat faster, pumping oxygen around your body to those parts that need it to protect you. You may feel as if you are on high alert as well, unable to calm down or relax, your mind may race unable to focus or quieten down,” says the NCH.
Just a few sessions with a hypnotherapist can lead to your child feeling more confident, more relaxed, and more satisfied with their life than before. Hypnotherapy clients often report being calmer and having more clarity of thought which enables them to make decisions more easily.
If your child or teen is struggling with stress, anxiety, or dissatisfaction with life, contact an accredited NCH therapist near you by clicking here.