Focus Academy

Since we deal with quirky (different and unique in a good way) kids, they have many challenges with Anxitey.

Here are Ten Rules for Coping with Anxiety 

1. Remember, feelings of anxiety are just exaggerations of normal bodily stress reactions.

2. Sensations are neither harmful nor dangerous - just unpleasant. Nothing worse will happen.

3. Stop adding to the panic with frightening thoughts of where anxiety will lead.

4. Stay in the present. Be aware of what is happening to you rather than concern yourself with how much worse it might get.

5. Wait and give the fear time to pass.

6. Notice that when you stop adding to panic with frightening thoughts, the fear begins to fade.

7. Focus on coping with facing the fear rather than trying to avoid it or escape from it.

8. Look around you. Plan what you will do next as the panic subsides.

9. Think about the progress made so far, despite all the difficulties.

10. When you are ready to go on, do so in an easy, relaxed manner. There is no hurry.

Remember - each time you cope with anxiety, 
you start to reduce your fear!

1. Set goals. It’s difficult to arrive at a final destination when you’re unsure of what it is and what it takes to achieve.

2. Use a schedule/planner. It’s easy to forget assignment due dates, test days, and other important information when it’s not written down. Use your phone, computer or a plain old-fasioned planner.

3. Know your learning style. Develop strategies for overcoming learning challenges (i.e. record the lecture, take a photo of the board)

4. Be an active reader. You’ll better retain information from the textbook if you try to take notes or explain the information to someone else when reading.

5. Participate in study groups. Organize study groups with other classmates. It’s easier to remember concepts taught to others, and group members often share insights you never consider.

6. Take notes. Take organized notes. If it’s useful, develop outlines, highlight key information, or utilize other methods to organize lecture notes.

7. Organize your study materials. Organize notes, assigned readings, and other study materials, so it can be easily retrieved while studying.

8. Draft papers. Always write a rough draft when preparing an essay. Take time to review it for errors and ask a friend or family member to read it and offer advice.

9. Slow down on tests. It’s common to misunderstand questions or skip key information when nervous. Take time to thoroughly read test questions.

10. Don’t replace protein with caffeine. Before a test, refrain from simply consuming additional caffeine. Instead, eat foods high in complex carbohydrates and protein.