The Summer is Over and School Anxiety begins, Homeopathy to the rescue and to save de day again!
End of summer and school is about to start. While some children look to go back to school with excitement, others unfortunately are feeling very anxious and overwhelmed. A great number of mums across the UK are dealing with nervous and anxious children. There is also the first day at school for the very little ones which also make the child even more nervous, especially if the family has just moved to a new area.
On top of this we also have Covid-19 psychological stress affecting some children who are easily influenced.
School season also bring to mind statutory exams such as GCSE and A-levels.
I can still recall when I was a child and can relate to this situation. I had no problems before school tests and exams; however my problem was extreme shyness and anxiety about new situations and meeting people I did not know.
On the other hand, my sister became very anxious before forthcoming exams and unfortunately back then no one in my family knew anything about homeopathy and we had to deal with these emotional stressors in our own ways, though my mother used to make us Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) tea, whenever she noticed our anxiety.
Fortunately, this is not the case for the mums reading this brief article.
So whether your child is about to start school, is an older child moving to secondary school and later on will be feeling the anxiety and pressure of statutory exams, homeopathy can help your child. Mums can cure their families themselves with safe, efficacious non-toxic, non addictive and inexpensive homeopathy.
The remedies I am going to list below are for temporary situations, if your child is suffering from chronic anxiety, such as panic attacks, his/her case should be taken in-depth and in detail by a qualified homeopath so that relief can be achieved and the root cause also addressed.
Homeopathic remedies are often chosen specific to the symptoms of the person in need, so while, for example, the homeopathic remedy named Arsenicum album works for one child, another totally different remedy may be needed for a different child from the same family. A homeopathic remedy can be determined by taking into account individual circumstance and as well taking individual reactions to school or before an exam or school event.
Listed below are a few of the more common homeopathic remedies for anxiety.
Gelsemium 30C
Symptoms of anxiety related to a specific event: looser bowel movement (in many cases diarrhoea), trembling, feeling clumsy, lack of coordination in movement, want to be left alone and in quiet place.
The first remedy for anticipatory anxiety and fear that comes to my mind is Gelsemium 30C, One dose ( one tablet) twice a day, under the tongue, in clean mouth is a beautiful result to see.
Think of Gelsemium before taking a test, first day of school, before surgery, stage fright ( like a sport event at school or artistic/theatric event), feeling of butterflies in the stomach and needing to go to toilet urgently. Gelsemium will help and clear the feeling of “paralysis and weakness” of the body one feels when one is anxious. Gelsemium is popular for people who become paralysed with fear (jelly legs, shaking legs) before giving a talk or taking an exam. They may feel a physical and mental heaviness about them. The child may tremble and stutter and is unable to collect his/her thoughts.
Argentum Nitricum 30C
The child will be experiencing anticipatory anxiety similar to the state described above. On top of that, the child may be trembling with nervous energy and most likely to have diarrhoea before an event. There is nervousness and a marked desire to do well along with fear of failure, lack of confidence. They hate being alone and feel better when in company. The child will have anxious thoughts, are extremely fidgety and walks around quickly to calm themselves down. The child has a feeling that time moves at snail’s pace. They also hate to be kept waiting, hence they cannot wait to get over and done with their exam or event.
Aconite 30C
The child will look very anxious, truly afraid, stare with glassy eyes and appear to be in a state of shock. Inconsolable, distressed along with restlessness and cannot sit still.aconite is a popular remedy for panic attacks with sensation of the heart pounding and as if unable to breathe in enough air. There is also feeling of about to faint. Aconite 30C can be repeated as frequently as needed until a calm state returns.
Arsenicum album 30C
With the anxiety, the child will look pale, weak, shaky and exhausted. They fear being alone and are more restless and anxious than with other remedies (extreme restlessness). So they also tend to wake up late in the night due to worry about an exam. A very interesting feature of this remedy and therefore of the child is : they want to be in tidy environment and feel better for it, so a child needing Arsenicum 30C is often a very tidy and organised with their clothes, stationery, bedroom as it helps them to reduce their anxiety by keeping things under control. The child needing Arsenicum maybe be very anxious about catching COVID-19 at school as Arsenicum alb has fear of diseases, of germs, of catching disease etc.
Pulsatilla 30C
Normally for the child who is very attached to the parents. It is a remedy indicated for separation anxiety from parents, most especially from mothers. The child becomes very needy, demanding affection, comfort which make them feel better very quickly. Anxiety is expressed through excessive clinginess and whining, whinging. The child needing Pulsatilla 30C is also very sensitive, emotional and yielding.
Ignatia 30C
When panic symptoms are very intense, should you be in doubt or if none of the remedies above have helped. When symptoms are intense, give Ignatia 30C One dose ( one tablet), 2 or maybe 3 times maximum a day, and then less frequently as the child improves. Ignatia helps even the most calm and extrovert students going back to school after summer break.
Have your homeopathic arsenal at home by owning a Basic Kit* of homeopathic remedies, choose which remedy fits best your child state, administer it and then relax and watch. Homeopathy helps your family get back up, your child step onto the school bus, or provide “good luck” when you perform in an event.
Wishing all the children a peaceful and calm start or return to school! Do contact me if you would like to discuss your child’s individual needs and health issues.
*Reminder: Always take/give the homeopathic remedy tablet in clean mouth, that is, no brushing teeth, eating, drinking and nothing by mouth for 20 minutes before and after taking the remedy.
*Basic Kits of homeopathic remedies can be bought from specialised homeopathic pharmacies in UK such as Helios, Ainsworths and Nelsons.