Teacher: Does anyone know the answer to question four?

In my mind: Question four…I remember that one being easy for me. This topic is pretty easy to me. I think I got that question right. Should I raise my hand and answer it? I haven’t participated much in this class and everyone knows it, so maybe I should. But what if I get it wrong? What will they all think of me? What will the teacher think of me? What will I think of myself? Maybe I shouldn’t answer…

Anxiety is not an excuse to avoid doing something. Anxiety is a serious condition that controls people’s daily lives, affecting their work life, social life, and especially school life. Here are some things that we students with anxiety wish our teachers and professors knew…

1.This is not just your typical “adjustment” problem.

Yes, I am having trouble adjusting, but it is not exactly what everyone else is going through. My anxiety is not just here in the classroom, but everywhere I go. I carry it along with me like a bag strapped to my back, and I cannot get rid of it. It will not just go away in time. My anxiety is a serious issue that needs a different attention to it.

2.When I don’t come to class, it’s not because I am being lazy.

I am not waking up in the morning and saying to myself, “You know what, I just don’t feel like going to class today.” What I am thinking is, “How am I going to be able to get through all of these classes? Can I do it?” Sometimes I don’t believe I can do it, so I stay home. I am not just choosing to miss class, but I mentally cannot bring myself out of my bed, for my crippling anxiety is taking control over me.

3.Calling me out in front of the whole class can make things much worse.

There is a reason that I am not raising my hand in class. I am so nervous to get the answer wrong and embarrass myself in front of everyone. It is not that I don’t care, but I do not have the confidence in myself to answer the question. If you call on me for an answer, I will feel very anxious, and even trapped. If I get the answer wrong, I will feel so nervous and upset that I might have to leave the room.

4.If I abruptly leave the room for an extended period of time, I am not just trying to get out of class.

I’m really not trying to miss class, but sometimes my anxiety overwhelms me and I must leave the room so I don’t cry or have an anxiety attack in the middle of class. I wish this didn’t happen to me, but I can’t control it.

5.I’m not being lazy.

I am trying my hardest and doing the best that I can with what I have been given. I am not doing these things because I can’t, not because “I don’t feel like it.”

6.My assignment isn’t late because I was lazy and saved it until the last minute.

I have put so much time, effort, and thought into just trying to get it started. Every time I sit down to do my assignment, I feel overwhelmed with anxiety and have a breakdown. I am nervous about failing, but even more nervous about getting my hopes up when I think I did well, and then finding out I did much worse than I thought. My fears may be irrational, but I still feel them.

7.Sometimes I am too scared to say something.

I may be struggling in class, but I do not want to make you feel bad for me, so I probably won’t say anything about what is going on. If you see me struggling, approach me in private and ask what is going on. I will try to open up to you, but it may be difficult for me to explain how I am feeling. Just having someone notice might even help a little.

8.It’s not that I don’t care.

I actually care a lot. I really want to do well, but my anxiety takes control of me and sometimes does not let me perform my best work. I am doing the best with what I have been given.

I will not let my anxiety stop me. I will work harder every day to try and overcome the fears I have. I may not be doing as well as I hoped, but I am putting my best foot forward and doing what I can. And that is what matters.