Overcoming anxiety and school avoidance with Shova

NottAlone co-founders Dr Maddi Popoola and Dr Órlaith Green sat down with 18-year-old university student Shova to discuss her experience with anxiety and panic attacks and the effect on her school attendance.

Shova tells her story, explaining when she started to struggle to attend school, how her attendance rate dropped as low as 60% and her fear that she would never be able to cope with going to school.

She also shares what helped her to overcome her anxiety and panic attacks and rebuild her attendance.

Shova gives advice for friends and family, as well as sharing her tips for those who are struggling with anxiety around going to school. Educational psychologists Dr Maddi and Dr Órlaith explain some of the psychology behind the experience and reflect on their work with young people experiencing similar issues.

Content note: this episode discusses some heavy topics around anxiety, panic attacks and feeling unable to attend school. Please, listen with care, take a break if you need it and visit NottAlone.org.uk if you need support around any of the issues raised in this episode.

Series three of The NottAlone Podcast is a special four-episode podcast series which explores some challenging topics, hearing young people’s first-hand experiences of grief, loss, eating disorder recovery and overcoming anxiety and panic attacks.

Transcript: https://nottalone.org.uk/aa/the-nottalone-podcast-overcoming-anxiety-and-school-avoidance-with-shova/

Need support with anxiety or panic attacks? Find information, advice and connections to free, local support services, visit NottAlone.org.uk

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We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode and any suggestions on what you want us to cover next! You can get in touch by leaving us a comment, on our social media or by emailing ⁠⁠NottAlone@nottscc.gov.uk⁠⁠.

Remember, whatever you’re going through, you are not alone.

About NottAlone

NottAlone.org.uk is a mental health support resource for people of all ages in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, offering advice and information on a range of mental health subjects, as well as connections to free support services.

NottAlone is for all ages, covering individuals, workplaces and advice on how to support a friend or loved one. There’s a dedicated section of the website for children and young people, their parents/carers and professionals working with them.

Visit the NottAlone website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠NottAlone.org.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

About the Podcast

This episode of The NottAlone podcast was recorded by Brendon Gravell at The Old Library in Mansfield and produced by Rachel Cole and Francesca Vaney. Our theme music is the NottAlone song, Not Alone by Alex Mighten.

Find out more about the show: ⁠⁠⁠⁠NottAlone.org.uk/TheNottAlonePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠

NottAlone is a partnership between Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottingham City Council and the NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board.