Ep 3 | When School Feels Impossible: The Why Behind School Anxiety, Avoidance, and Burnout

For many families, school anxiety doesn’t show up all at once. It may begin with a few difficult mornings, a stomachache before class, or a request to stay home “just this once.” Over time, those moments can grow into patterns of avoidance, anxiety, and stress that affect the entire family.In this episode, Beth Hope and Britt Teasdale sit down with Adam Honecker, LCSW, Director of Compass Health Center’s Adolescent PHP and IOP Programs in Chicago, to explore what’s happening beneath the surface when school starts to feel impossible.Together, they unpack the different reasons kids and teens may avoid school — including anxiety, social pressure, perfectionism, burnout, and the need for safety and connection — and how parents can begin to respond with understanding instead of fear.Throughout the conversation, they discuss how school avoidance can show up differently across ages, why physical symptoms like headaches and stomachaches are often part of the picture, and practical ways families can support their child while building resilience and maintaining their own mental health.