Everybody experiences anxiety at some point throughout their life- whether that be for an interview or meeting new people. However, for some people this can develop into a long term mental health issue which can affect their work. On the other hand, anxiety can be useful to help to focus the mind on a task at hand and avoid hazardous situations.
There are several environmental causes of anxiety which you should be aware of, alongside physical causes. These include, but aren’t limited to:
- Genetics
- Phobias
- Life experiences
- Trauma (bereavement, illness)
- Side effects from taking some prescription drugs
- Substances such as caffeine, alcohol, amphetamine, and cocaine
- Biological processes within the body
Physical symptoms of anxiety include:
- Muscle tremors and shaking
- Flushing
- Restlessness
- Fear
- Panic
- Hyperventilation
- Dizziness
- Chest pains
- Rapid heartbeat
If a student comes to you believing that they may be suffering from anxiety, or a student raises a concern about another student, please try to remain calm and engage with the student. The most important guiding principle is to put everyone’s safety first. Advise the student to speak to the Wellbeing team or suggest that you can raise a Welfare Concern referral on their behalf and with their permission. The team can then contact the student and address any concerns they might have.