Last week we talked about students who experience anxiety related to school. Let’s continue discussing anxiety related to school attendance. Students who refuse to attend school may complain of physical symptoms just before it is time to leave for school or repeatedly ask to visit the school nurse. Parents will often notice that when these students are allowed to stay home, the symptoms quickly disappear, but will reappear the next morning. This behavior can eventually graduate to the point where a student will refuse to leave the house. 

Here are a few symptoms to look for if one of your children is have trouble handling nervousness or anxiety. Common physical symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, or diarrhea. You may also see other symptoms such as tantrums, inflexibility, separation anxiety, avoidance, and defiance.