Mental health experts across India say that every year many young people suffer from anxiety and stress before and after exam sessions, most of them preying on burnout due to long preparation times and uncertainty about the future. Counseling and medication are needed to deal with post-test stress.
Anxiety is one of the major mental health issues students face just before board exams and competitive exams, and anxiety stems from unrealistic expectations of family members and parents. Success is often measured by excellent grades, but students often experience anxiety, stress, and, in extreme cases, depression in order to achieve their grades.
The stress is even more overwhelming when students face a highly competitive, rigorous and goal-oriented competitive exam. Experiencing high levels of stress that interfere with their daily lives, the most common complaints of such students are poor concentration and lack of focus.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Manasthali founder and senior psychiatrist Dr. Jyoti Kapoor said: Lack of recreation, constant study for most of the day, parental pressure and fear of failure exacerbate their condition. Such preparation is time consuming and tedious, and students often sacrifice other aspects of their lives in order to focus on his one test. We must not forget the fact that our brain needs a break. It cannot function 24/7. The scenario is even worse when the results of competitive and officer exams are not as expected. Feeling stuck and back to the same routine again. “
Blaming the lack of emotional support, she stressed: If someone has it, it guarantees healthy growth of mind, body and soul. Many students either stay away from their parents (in another city to prepare for exams) or Even when they are together, they rarely interact with their parents because of their busy schedules. It deprives them of emotional support. Without emotional support in such a stressful environment, students can start to feel lonely. They are addicted to unhealthy practices such as excessive alcohol consumption, gambling, overeating, compulsive participation in sex, shopping and internet browsing, smoking, and substance abuse. “
Here’s what mental health experts say about being unprepared for failure: No one can tell you what will happen to plan B if plan A fails. This is why when students experience failure, they feel it is the end of the world for them. They are under great stress, both physically and mentally. In many cases, students do not want to participate in competitive courses, they do so only because of pressure from family or society. These young children know for the rest of their lives that this one exam will decide their life. They don’t have time for extracurricular activities, social activities, or sports, which hinders their character development. “
She recommended some tips on healthy mental health and coping mechanisms for students preparing for high-pressure exams.
- Create a schedule that improves the performance of your body and mind.
- Take a short break to refresh your body and mind. Taking short 15-20 minute breaks every 1-2 hours will refuel your body.
- Eat a healthy diet and get at least 8 hours of good sleep every night.
- Long study sessions reduce the time available for exercise. As a result, the body becomes lethargic and the mind begins to react negatively. Make time for physical activity.
- Find calming exercises that suit your needs. It’s as easy as taking a walk outside.
- try to balance
- Talk to your loved ones often for emotional support.
- Stay away from unrealistic expectations.
