Back to School Anxiety
By Dr. Renae Haldeman · New to some of these words? See the glossary.
Since her early years in elementary school, a young girl had been affected, both in her feelings and in her body, by the stress of going to school. It was so bad that an autoimmune condition appeared. Ten years later, she was still struggling with school, and graduating from high school was at risk. Her frequent headaches, loss of appetite, and daily vomiting and diarrhea were all set off by getting ready for school. How can anyone feel confident about school with these physical and emotional symptoms every day?
This cycle of “fight or flight” mode is hard for anyone to bear. Her choices were to quit school and give up hope for her high school diploma, or to try acupuncture. After just four acupuncture visits, her upset stomach and anxiety dropped a lot. The treatments stopped the surface symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. We kept working on the main problem: balancing the brain and helping to calm the nervous system, which was causing the anxiety. After a few more sessions, this young woman can dream about her future and everything it holds for her. No more school anxiety!
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This article is educational and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. Please talk with a licensed healthcare provider about your own health.