Why does my child freeze when it comes to taking a test? Why does my child become sick when it is time to take a test or go to the next grade? What are the fears?

Fears teens often experience:

  • Fear of something different
  • Scared of being with a lot of kids
  • Fear of the test
  • Fear of failure
  • Fear of not being able to remember the material
  • Fear of not livening up to a parent’s expectations or standards
  • Fear of a new situation
  • Fear of rejection
  • Fear of condemnation
  • Fear of being laughed at

 

And the list is endless…

No matter what the fear, it exists in the teenager’s mind and is real to them.

How can a parent help?

  • Talk to the teacher or leader of the setting the teen is in and ask if they notice anything
  • Ask about taking tests or exams orally
  • Easing student into taking written exams…accommodations
  • Time factor can be an issue…pressure to complete within a specific amount of time
  • Teach breathing techniques to bring anxiety down
  • Talking your teen through a situation with different scenarios
  • Be positive
  • Acknowledge your teen’s fear; it is real to them

 

Perhaps have your teen tested for a Learning Disability (LD). There are many kinds of Learning Disabilities such as reading disorders, disorders of written expression, math disability, four stages of information processing, Auditory Processing Disorder, Visual Processing Disorder, etc. Creating an Individual Education Plan (IEP) can help set up classroom accommodations to help your teen succeed.

Another possibility is an Anxiety Disorder. An Anxiety Disorder is an abnormal and overwhelming feeling of apprehension and fear. Panic attacks can also be a problem with teens.

Whatever the problem; Learning Disability, Anxiety Disorder, Panic attacks, depression,
Etc., there is help available. Treatment is successful for teenagers.

Triumph Youth Services is a licensed residential treatment center and accredited school for teenage boys and young men. The educational staff is trained in dealing with teens with Learning Disabilities (LD), Anxiety Disorder, etc. and work with IEP’s on a daily basis.

They provide small, highly structured family environment for youth. This family-like community promotes a social environment that takes on both therapeutic and healing properties instead of maintaining negative behaviors.

Reference
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anxiety