Final answer:
Anxiety is a mental health disorder that can greatly affect a student's academic performance by hindering concentration, processing of information, and school attendance, also causing severe test anxiety. Moderate levels of stress can enhance performance, but excessive stress leads to decline. Depression associated with anxiety can further deteriorate educational experiences through various cognitive and emotional impairments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Anxiety is a mental health disorder characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, or fear that are strong enough to interfere with one's daily activities. It can significantly impact a student's academic performance. One of the ways anxiety and related disorders like OCD affect learning is by making it difficult for students to concentrate and process information correctly. This can result in struggling to retain information in long-term memory. Furthermore, anxiety can lead to poor school attendance due to stress about going to school and being around others, which can be compounded by troubles with sleeping.
Research indicates that moderate arousal, such as mild stress or anxiety, can actually improve performance and well-being, known as eustress. However, when stress exceeds an optimal level, it becomes distress, leading to feelings of burnout and decreased performance. Severe test anxiety is a clear example where excessive stress negatively impacts test scores and overall academic success. In addition, the effects of anxiety are not limited to cognitive functions; they can also influence a student's social interactions and participation in activities such as sports, which may in turn affect academic outcomes.
Depression, which often accompanies anxiety, can also deteriorate educational experiences by raising stress hormones and affecting neuron development. Symptoms such as a lack of focus, poor working memory, and impaired reasoning can adversely affect learning and decision-making, further impacting academic outcomes.