Back-to-school season is everywhere. New clothes, new supplies, new schedules, and people talking about how exciting it is to see everyone again.
Except not everyone feels excited.
One teen spent the last few nights before school lying awake thinking about everything that could go wrong. What if the classes were too hard? What if friendships had changed? What if something happened at home while they were at school?
Back-to-school anxiety can come from a lot more than worrying about homework.
For teens who have a parent or loved one living with a mental illness, returning to school can mean balancing two different worlds. There’s everything happening at school, plus whatever might be happening at home.
That’s a lot for one brain to keep track of.
Instead of trying to mentally prepare for the entire school year, focus on what’s right in front of you. Get through the first morning. Find your classes. Say hi to someone you know. Then handle whatever comes next.
You don’t need to have the whole year figured out on the first day.
Sometimes the best way to handle a big transition is one day at a time.
