At Your Fingertips: Ideas for Easing Student Stress and Anxiousness

School is back in session. Students are establishing new routines, patterns, and schedules.

Are you watching your child struggle with academics, concentration, or emotional challenges? Maybe you’re noticing that the anxiety of returning to school still shows up, even weeks later. Sometimes this occurs because worry and fear have become a pattern. According to an article from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America last month, students could benefit from tips to manage and ease back-to-school worries.

As adults, we know that some situations create emotional reactions and possible development of anxious patterns. Life can be just as complicated for kids and teens.

Their challenges can be overwhelming and can affect many aspects of their lives:

• Academic Frustration: struggling with their studies and taking tests
• Digital Distractions: excessive screen time and technology addiction
• Emotional Rollercoaster: battling anxiety, stress, or mood swings
• Behavioral Concerns: issues that need a positive approach
• Body Burnout: poor health and lack of sleep

We can easily get scared about the meaning of the word “anxiety” when that word is connected to a family member, especially a child. Of note is that our children may still be dealing with the consequences of the pandemic and could be significantly affected by the distressing and harrowing episodes that fill the news. No matter what it may be, anything that spikes their worry and fear can be experienced as anxiousness.

The Discomfort of Unease

But here’s the deal. Anxiety doesn’t only exist as a “diagnosed disorder”. It can be experienced as a basic “state of being” in which the body exhibits a pattern of behavior that creates discomfort, worry, nervousness, or unease.

The unease is typically about an imminent event, especially if it concerns an uncertain outcome. In that picture, anxiousness isn’t necessarily an ongoing way of being. It is occasional and temporary.

The Pattern of Feelings

If the anxiousness becomes ongoing, the symptoms can be cumulative. It may very well take on the description of “anxiety disorder” because it is no longer a temporary worry or fear. Whether anxiousness or an anxiety disorder, a range of symptoms may be experienced. The symptoms can include shortness of breath, agitated or angry behavior, mood swings, worry, and fear about not knowing what will happen next.

Use Your Own Fingertips

Many people have heard of acupuncture, but are you familiar with the gentle touch of acupressure? You can do this with your own body. It is easy to use your own fingertips to achieve the balance your body is seeking. This can be taught to children as well! Self-help acupressure can be done anytime, anywhere.

After working with acupressure clients of all ages for almost 30 years, I know that the body WANTS energetic balance and harmony. When that is available, the body has ease, calm, and breath. And no matter their age, each person can help their body discover what that is like and help their body remember that state of being.

This self-help acupressure is a simple way to help your body discover balance and then remember it. Using your own fingertips, this stress management technique allows your body to reprogram and repattern old ways of being. Combine it with exercise, mindfulness, and meditation to reduce stress and anxiety symptoms.

Seek Solutions: The Body Wants Harmony

The National Institute of Mental Health (April 2023) states, “Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life…If it gets worse over time and interferes with daily activities such as performance, schoolwork, and relationships…consider stress management techniques such as exercise, mindfulness, and meditation to reduce anxiety symptoms.” https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/anxiety-disorders

No matter where your child is on the “stress or anxiousness scale,” consider using self-help acupressure to see the positive potential. 

Future-Proof Your Child

Anyone can learn and share the powerful acupressure techniques that can improve concentration, reduce stress, and promote emotional balance for elementary, middle, or high school children. These techniques are easy and can be applied anytime, anywhere. Users report that these techniques help them in their studies and extracurricular activities, such as sports and music.

This type of practice allows the development of self-help skills young people can use to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Techniques that empower our children and allow them to be more self-sufficient can help prepare them for academic success and a resilient, well-balanced future.

Health is at Your Fingertips! 

For a strong foundation that reduces stress, boosts your immune system, helps let go of old, chronic conditions, and balances emotions, you can use an acupressure routine daily. Your body is your house and should be cleaned daily to maximize energy.

Done regularly, this self-help acupressure approach will consistently convey to your body that you love and care for it. Your body will appreciate the TLC and do its best to always be in balance and harmony. And it will be easily able to give you messages whenever it needs extra attention, so your body won’t have the propensity to develop issues. Your body will recognize when old behaviors are cropping up and help you get on the other side before becoming patterns.

Empowering Children

You can share these concepts with your children, loved ones, or students if you are an educator. Doing self-help acupressure daily empowers your child to take charge of their own well-being. There is no such thing as too much self-help. Doing energy balancing is all about repatterning, reprogramming, and giving your body new habits and ways of being.

When working with students, I let them know that “Your body, like all bodies, desires balance and harmony so you can be on the winning track. Self-help acupressure will help you shine, and grow with balanced, calm, and healing energy.” Learn more at https://deborahmyerswellness.com.