Is school getting your daughter stressed? Tips for Coping with Exam Stress

As your daughter enters middle school, it may seem unlikely that she’ll encounter a great deal of academic stress. However, for some young people, just taking an exam may cause extreme stress. Exam stress is a serious issue that parents should be wary of.

Helping your daughter cope

When your child  is studying for a test, it may be easy to believe that they will succeed without your help. Like most parts of life, your child may need you to help them study. You can help them yourself or with a private tutor. Here are some other things to be wary of when it comes to exam stress for your tween:

• If stress is not managed within young people, the fight or flight system is switched on at all times. This can lead to aggression and unhappiness for your daughter.
• Anxiety increases the risk of a panic disorder, which causes panic attacks. That’s something no parent wants their daughter to suffer from.
• Stress can increase your daughter’s risk of developing depression.
• Young people who are overly stressed are at a higher risk to develop a substance use issue or an eating disorder.
• Stress can lower a young person’s immune system defences, making it easier for your daughter to become ill.

Obviously, all of the above are not something anyone would want for their child. You can help your daughter stop being so stressed out by letting her know that grades are not the be all-end all of life. She needs to know that you’ll love her even if she’s not doing so well in school. However, that isn’t to say that you shouldn’t do everything in your power to help your daughter get good grades. It’s important to help her create a calm, focused working environment before an exam. Instead of cramming the night before a test, make sure her study schedule is drawn out so she will feel fully prepared.

Maintaining healthy habits

One of the most important ways to keep your daughter relaxed and minimally stressed is to make sure she is keeping a healthy diet and exercise plan. Exercise is great for keeping a level head and to keep the cogs in the brain going. Changing daily habits can disrupt your daughter’s sleep schedule, which will cause her even more stress.

Asheville Academy can help

Asheville Academy, a therapeutic boarding school for young girls ages 10-14, can help your daughter struggling with academic stress find the success she deserves. For more information about how Asheville Academy can help your daughter, please call 800.264.8709.