Tips for Dealing with Anxiety as a High School Freshman

Freshman year was my easiest year just focus on the school work and let your friends work your way to you that's what I did. I'm a senior in high school now. All I can suggest is to eat healthy and try to get good sleep!!

Take deep breaths and realize that those people ( teachers mostly) will try to scare kids into thinking high school is going to be SUPER HARD AND YOU HAVE TO BE PERFECT OTHERWISE YOU’LL FLOP AND ITS NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMS, is such bull. Just because your newphew is going doesn’t mean you have to talk to them if it gives you anxiety, you get to pick and choose your friends, they should be ones you feel comfortable around and happy with. Also, I’m sorry to hear about all the surgeries you’ve been through on your leg. It must’ve been really hard on you and you’re so brave for making it through. I’m sure if you’re a little late to class because of your leg your teacher will understand and besides as long as you’re actually trying to go to class on time you’ll make it there in time or if not you’ll be like a couple minutes late which isn’t a big deal. Teachers hardly even notice if you’re 5 minutes late. If your really concerned about getting to and from classes then it might be helpful to contact a guidance consular and tell them about it so the teachers know if you’re not on time because communication is key in getting through these situations.

I second the doctor's note and accommodations. It's amazing what the school can do for you if your doc clears it. My high school was three floors and massive, so I was given an elevator pass along with being allowed to leave class a little early to take my time and avoid the congested rush in the middle of the building. Also, I was allowed to not take PE. They for sure will allow you to at least sit out until (or if) you recover from your surgery, it's kind of inhumane to force you to exercise in your current condition (plus it might severely injure you). Talk to your school counselor about your surgery, how it's effecting you, and ask what is needed in terms of a doctor's note if they require one. Talk to your teachers, too, most of them will be very understanding and sympathetic towards your situation On the topic of your bio father and his nephew, I'm sorry you have to deal with that anxiety. Nothing like that has happened to me so I'm not sure how to advise here. I would say, though, that most high schools have very strict visitor policies with locked doors and security guards and check-ins, etc. Also it's rare for adult relatives to pop in anyways at the high school level so I do think it's unlikely you will ever have to see your bio dad in or around the building. And, if you do, there are tons of people around which I always found soothing. I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your cousin or what his relationship with your bio father is, there's lots of info I'm missing there so I don't know how exactly to advise you, but literally just keep your head down and don't talk to him if you don't want to, that's your right. Just because you're related and attending the same school doesn't mean you are required to give him the time of day - friends are also very helpful in this department, both as a distraction and a deterrant, to help remove you from a bad situation Remember to breathe, high school can be overwhelming at first, but once you settle in it will all become regular routine just like when you first started middle school. I believe in you! Feel free to message me if you ever wanna talk 😊

I prepared for highschool by reading the perks of being a wall flower twice in like the few days before going and checking out my walking route ahead of time because I had to walk until I was allowed to drive basically. Talk to the school about your surgery, they should be able to offer accommodations like access to the elevator which is normally just verbally giving you permission since it’s against the ADA to require a key or something for disability accommodations like that, so honestly you could probably use it without talking to them but better to go in and talk just to talk about other accessibility options as well, for instance if you got swollen from the tour alone, maybe consider a wheelchair at least part b time while at b school if you can get yourself one. I had at least a month of walking with crutches and a soft cast for a stress fracture in my foot from trying to do Halloween in some sick demonia heals plus at least another month of a boot after and they gave me accommodations of elevator privileges, which I continued to use occasionally after I was better ever because by the ebbs of the day I was beat enough I didn’t want to use stairs, study hall instead of gym until healed via my doctors note, and I believe I got to leave class 5 minutes early so I could get to my next class with time to spare. So yeah talk to them and get a doctors note and you should be able to mitigate most of those concerns at least

Well I was a high schooler once so I'm guessing your about 14 maybe 15 yr old since you mention freshman. I understand the feeling oh too well the anxiety you are going through. Believe it or not alot people understand what you are going through. I never had my father do any inappropriate things to me since he passed away many years ago close to my 1st birthday so I'll be frank I cant relate on that account. Later on the summer before my senior year I lived in a disability / elderly housing with my grandmother I was 17 at time one the neighbors on my floor did some inappropriate things to me. Anyway high school going to be hard remember your not alone. If your nervous because of your father being so close just breathe. Tell yourself you are ok. That he cant hurt you while you are at school because for one there too many people around that can stop him. And if he did try hurt you alot witnesses would not look good for him. Just find some friends and have a buddy system they look out for you and you look out for them. It how I survived high school it was not easy believe me. I have Austim so i was bullied alot in my school age years. And my high school was the same way 2 level wise. Since you had surgery and such if it makes it hard for you to move around maybe talk with your mom or guardian whoever you live with and the school see if they could make an accommodations on you leave your classes a couple mins early. Because of the fact your injury may make it harder for you to walk. Just talk to them it never hurts to try. Late wise they sometimes go easy on freshman first couple days time wise cause you arent going know where all the classrooms are. Heck at my high school you would have literally needed a map. I am surprised they didnt give us one honestly. All schools are different and all teachers are different one teacher may go easy couple times but dont make things they let you off on at times a habit. If you take kindness to an advantage itll only get you in trouble. I am 29 I been to high school it not going be easy at all i promise you that but what i CAN promise is at the end of it all. You will have many doors open for you. Study hard but not to the point where you wear yourself out take a break for a little while. Not too long. Hand things in on time ask for help. Work as hard as you can . You may decide to go to college in future but obviously do not worry about that. If you work hard you can get full ride scholarships or if you do an extracurricular activity depending what it is you can get one for that too.. again all depends. Good luck message me if you need me

I would definitely go to a guidance counselor at your school and talk to them to about your concerns with getting to classes and all that because of your leg and see if they have any recommendations for accommodatios or anything like that . I know when I was I'm high school they had accommodations and things for people who needed them.