Is Your Son Experiencing Stress From Online Learning?

Since the onset of COVID-19, kids and teens have been staying at home to prevent the disease's spread. For many, the 2019-2020 academic year ended with distance online learning. For some kids, staying home makes them feel safe, but at the same time, the thought of continuing with online learning may be daunting. The change in learning plans and the uncertainty of how long COVID-19 may last may be disappointing. If you believe that your son is feeling stressed over online learning, you can reinstate their sanity and exuberance by finding treatment and support. To learn more about our treatment options, contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at 662.373.2828 today.

How Can I Tell If My Son Is Stressed from Online Learning?

If your son is stressed over online learning, he may not ask for help. That is why it is essential to stay tuned and watch for the signs of stress. These symptoms include:

Sudden change in the effort they put into school
Avoiding and refusing to attend the online classes
Change in attitude
Failing to finish assignments in good time
Trouble concentrating
Withdrawing or having outbursts

How Can Online Learning Affect My Son's Mental Health?

For many teens, the idea of online learning may feel foreign and hard to adjust to quickly. Even though they may be good performers, changing them from a setting where they excel in an unfamiliar environment can be challenging. Your son may need to learn how to self-manage, navigate, and adapt to this new set up, which can be much more difficult to handle than they anticipated. A school is a social place for kids that allows them to interact with peers and self-express. While being away from school, your son may be feeling isolated from the regular social interaction that they had in the past. During online classes, extra-curricular activities are almost non-existent, and this may make them feel depressed. Peer support among teens is crucial as they are in a stage where they try to establish independence from their parents. Being away from school means that your son is away from his friends, and this can cause worry and uncertainty. Online classes present a unique set of problems. Your son has to deal with the loss of a daily routine, and on top of that, he may have trouble concentrating and keeping up with school work while at home. If your son struggles with self-image, online classes can make them feel anxious and overwhelmed on a video conference screen. Online classes can also be frustrating for kids with mental health disorders. For instance, if your son struggles with ADHD, sitting in front of their computer for long may be too difficult to bear. Children who struggle with anxiety may have no idea where to start with the assignments, especially when instant feedback isn't available.

How Can I Help My Son?

While online classes may be challenging, there are ways of stress management that will help you protect your son's mental health. These include:

Create a friendly workspace: Children at home may have divided attention between their schoolwork and playing with toys or electronic devices that are within their reach. This necessitates the need to have a workspace that is free from distractions.
Establish a routine: With online classes, your son may have limited or no access to extra-curricular activities with his peers. With the drastic change, it is essential to create an environment that evokes some semblance of normalcy. Things like maintaining regular waking up and sleeping hours, breaks, and alarms to guide your son's day may somehow mimic the school routine.
Have a conversation with your son: During such times, having a conversation with your son can be an essential tool for stress management. Get your child talking about what they think and feel about the classes and assure them of your support throughout.

Seek Help at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center

If you are concerned about your son's mental health, finding help in an adolescent mental health treatment center can go a long way. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we provide varied treatment programs customized to each teen. Some of our programs include:

Residential treatment center
Fully supervised detox services
Non-acute level of mental health
Individual counseling

If online classes are throwing your son off the emotional center, we can help. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at 662.373.2828 to learn how your son can manage their stress amid online learning.

The Stonewater Adolescent Treatment Process

What to Expect When Your Child Goes to Treatment

More than half a million families put a child into residential treatment for adolescents each year. If your family is taking this step, you are not alone - even if it may feel that way. With a clear understanding of what to expect, and trusted guides walking alongside you, this moment can be transformed from a time of fear and uncertainty to the beginning of a new and positive journey. Let's begin.