7 Reasons Why Your Teenage Daughter Avoids Going To School

Why does your teenage daughter avoid going to school?

Your teenage daughter is an essential member of your family. You want her to succeed academically. However, she doesn’t feel like going to school today or in the following days.

Something could be horribly wrong. So you want to figure out what the problem might be. This guide will go over the seven reasons why your teenage daughter may be avoiding school.

If you need additional information about your teen and their mental health, BasePoint Academy can help. Visit their website at basepointacademy.com to learn more. Now, let’s take a look at the following possible reasons.

Social anxiety issues

The first on the list is social anxiety. They may be afraid to talk to people or even be in a social situation. Feelings of being judged by others and embarrassment are among the two major fears surrounding this.

This anxiety issue may be enough to where their daily life is disrupted. You can also look for symptoms such as nausea, sweating, fear of talking to a person or in front of a group of people, and nervous shaking, among other symptoms.

It can be a daunting task for many. But encourage them that it’s OK to talk to people and make friends. Don’t force it on them, but be understanding and empathetic.

Bullying

Bullying can affect any teenager. It can also include your daughter as well. Nearly 22 percent of students from 12 to 18 have reported being bullied at school.

Of these instances, they include being insulted or spreading rumors about them. At least five percent were victims of bullying that involved physical activity. Peer pressure has also played a role in bullying as well.

Many teenagers would often avoid school due to ongoing bullying. Every day, at least 160000 students will skip school because of it.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is as serious as bullying. Teenage girls are often experiencing sexual advances at school that are unwanted. In one survey, nearly one-half of middle and high school students were harassed sexually at least once.

At least a third of the students surveyed stated they didn’t want to return from school after it happened. Sexual harassment itself can begin as early as middle school. Even sexual assault may be possible by peers, but the incidents are not always reported out of fear of retaliation or similar results.

Anxiety or depression

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental disorders that affect teens. It may be difficult to diagnose depression because teenagers often deal with mood swings. So it may be a good idea to look for additional symptoms.

A mental health professional must diagnose a teenager with anxiety or depression. You will need to watch for signs such as refusing to go to school, withdrawing from social interactions, difficulty concentrating, and feeling hopeless or worthless.

Depression, if untreated, can lead to serious consequences. The most serious of them all is suicide. Within the last two years, more teenage girls have been hospitalized due to suicide attempts.

The increase was 50 percent between the years 2019 to 2021. While teenage girls are more likely to attempt suicide, teenage boys often die from it. It’s important to look out for any warnings pertaining to suicide.

These include but are not limited to messages or poetry they write about death. Talking about death may also be a subtle sign. They may also attempt to give away various items to friends or family.

If your teenage daughter is contemplating suicide, it may be a good time to get them the help they need. Know that they are not alone in their struggles. A mental health professional will help them through the crisis in the best way possible.

PTSD or Acute Stress Disorder

This can stem from a traumatic incident that happened at school. These disorders can develop within a month after it has occurred. These events may include but are not limited to witnessing the self-harm or death of a person.

School shootings may also be an incident where such a disorder can affect a student. They may have survived the attack unscathed or may have been injured. It’s understandable why your teenage daughter may avoid school after such an event.

Social rejection

Social rejection can be embarrassing for a teenager. Such rejection can get to a point where your teenage daughter may not end up in school. This can happen when a friendship between two people may end for whatever reason.

When this happens, social isolation may be something they’ll experience. They feel alone and don’t have anyone to talk to. Social rejection can be as painful as physical pain itself.

It’s one of the major things that teens normally fear the most. This is perhaps one of the reasons why social anxiety exists. If your teenage daughter has mentioned something about ending a friendship, it may be a good idea to talk about it with them.

Listen to them and be as understanding as possible. Know that you are there for them even if anyone else isn’t. As a parent, you want your daughter to feel loved and appreciated.

Let them know that they are better than the people who reject them.

Academic struggles

Academic struggles could play a role in why your teenage daughter may not be going to school. They may feel like they don’t have what it takes to succeed. They may feel like they are stupid.

If they are having struggles academically, make sure they get the help they need. This can be a tutor for a subject they may need to improve on. Remind them that academics are important and there is no shame in struggling.

Not everyone can be perfect when it comes to academics. It doesn’t have to be a competition between your teenage daughter and their peers. Tutoring will help them get better at academics and help rebuild that confidence they may have lacked before.