New Anxieties
The beginning of a new school year often brings hope, dreams, and excitement, but for some, it also brings anxiety. That’s the focus of this reflection.
Anxiety has two sides: the helpful kind that motivates us to take action, and the chronic kind that drains us mentally and physically. A quick search on “fatigue from anxiety” will uncover countless articles confirming this connection.
As a child, I usually loved the start of a new school year. Still, I remember one particular year that felt especially daunting. My family had just moved from a small community to Independence, Missouri, right next to the much bigger Kansas City. Thankfully, I had a strong family foundation and quickly found friends through St. Mark’s youth group. My eighth-grade year was filled with new friendships and the usual anxious moments that come with change.
These days, the prevailing belief is that anxiety is on the rise. Many point to COVID as the cause, and certainly, as a society, we’re still recovering. But while reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, I was struck by a different perspective. Every generation has faced challenges- wars, upheavals, and major social shifts. Yet Haidt’s research points to something else: the rapid rise of cell phones, social media, and the decline of a play-based childhood.
I could quote nearly every page I’ve read so far, but instead, I encourage you to read the book yourself. I came across it in a Catholic book group through Word on Fire. While it isn’t a Catholic book, and Haidt himself isn’t Catholic, the research is solid. It sheds light on how deeply “the phone” and full immersion into the cyber world have shaped today’s youth.
More and more attention is being paid to the negative effects of constant digital connection. Schools are taking notice too, some districts are limiting or outright banning phones in classrooms. Naturally, there’s pushback from parents who worry about emergencies and the need for communication. Still, momentum is growing. In fact, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe recently signed a law banning phones in schools during the day. A quick Google search for “Missouri schools ban phones” turns up plenty of news coverage on the topic. As with any issue, there are valid pros and cons, so it’s worth being informed.
That leads to the bigger question: as parents, do we also need to set limits at home? A few ideas come to mind:
- No phones in bedrooms, to avoid distractions from late-night notifications.
- Modeling the behavior we expect- if we ask our kids to put their phones down when we talk, are we willing to do the same?
I’ll admit, it takes practice for me not to check my phone constantly when I’m with loved ones. But when I manage it, I feel more present, more relaxed, and more focused. Stepping back from technology completely isn’t realistic, but creating boundaries is.
In fact, I wrote this without checking my phone (though I did pause for a little research). Speaking of which, here’s the link to the new Missouri law:
Missouri districts start new school year with state-mandated cell phone ban
We invite you to learn more about our Parish Mental Health Ministry, where we cover many topics like this.
By Linda Hopkins, Parish Mental Health Ministry Coordinator