Doctors’ tips to beat exam stress: Take it easy, eat and sleep well
Times of India | 12 February 2024
Kolkata: With a series of board examinations slated for the next few weeks, students are stressed and parents are worried. Mental health experts said that while students, who will be writing examinations, should eat and sleep well, their parents should also take it easy and not put undue pressure on their children.
The boards this year commended last week with the Madhyamik that will conclude on Monday, when the ISC board examinations will begin.Even as other board examinations are scheduled to start, stress has already started taking a toll on the mental health of students. Doctors are seeing a surge in the number of students coming with signs of exam stress and have advised them to take it easy.
Mental health experts said that it is not only parental pressure but some students tend to put undue pressure on themselves.
“I see a large number of students suffering from stress due to pressure induced by themselves. Parents should see that these kids get enough sleep, eat well and encourage them not to take any undue pressure,” said psychiatrist JR Ram of Apollo Multispecialty Hospital.
More than boys, it is the girls who suffer from exam related stress, doctors said. Extreme anxiety, sleeplessness, panic, loss of appetite and nightmares are some of the symptoms the students are reeling under. “On average, I am seeing seven to 10 students who are coming with issues of exam stress. Last month I came across close to 50 such students and the numbers are piling up,” said Sanjay Garg, mental health and behavioural sciences specialist at Fortis Anandapur.
Doctors said though academic performance related stress among students is seen round the year the number of affected shoots up ahead of boards.
“A little bit of stress is good but when the level crosses the threshold it can affect their performance,” said psychiatrist Sabyasachi Mitra, who is attached with CMRI, Belle Vue and Woodlands.
Experts said that exam stress is often overlooked. While the level of stress may not be serious enough, about 50% of the affected might need professional help when symptoms like sleep disruption, appetite change and procrastination are severe.
Instead of knee jerk reaction to the issue only when exams approach, doctors said parents should be working on ways to prevent their wards from slipping into stress much ahead.