Ludhiana: Psychiatrists, counsellors and mental-health specialists in the city are reporting a visible rise in students seeking help for anxiety and stress, especially during examination period and the tense phase before results are declared. With more children coming forward — or being brought in by parents —experts are advising a mix of relaxation techniques, structured routines, improved sleep habits, and better communication between parents and children as ways to cope with academic pressure.According to psychiatrists, students as young as 11 to 12 years and up to 17 to 18 years are increasingly showing signs of exam-related anxiety. A few postgraduate students have also approached specialists recently. The stress, they say, stems from fear of failure, the pressure to perform well, sleep disturbances, memory issues, irritability, and in some cases, aggression directed toward parents.City-based psychiatrist Dr Anshu Gupta shared that he typically sees around two to three patients a day dealing with anxiety linked to examinations. Most of them come with their parents, though some children do approach him independently. He said many students express fear of failure and feel burdened by expectations, which leads to sleep problems and memory issues. Some also experience result-related stress, and cases of irritability or aggression — particularly targeted toward mothers — are not uncommon.Dr Gupta said counselling is usually the primary mode of treatment. Students are encouraged to recall their past successes, focus on putting in their best efforts, and practise relaxation exercises and meditation, including yoga. He added that in a few cases, short-term medication is required, but counselling remains the most important intervention. He also pointed out that many students suffer silently and do not seek help, and advised that the problem is treatable and should not be ignored. Specialists also emphasise that counselling parents is an equally important part of the process.At DMCH, the pattern is similar. Dr Navkiran Soch Mahajan, head of the psychiatry department, said they see about two to three such cases almost every day. She mentioned that three students who had dropped out of examinations due to stress visited her clinic just the previous day. These students often show symptoms of anxiety, irritability and inability to cope with academic pressure.Dr Mahajan said besides counselling the child, they also counsel parents, reminding them that a child is “more than a report card” and that several qualities in life have no link to marks. She advises parents to focus on the holistic development of their children rather than just grades. For students, the team recommends proper sleep of around eight hours, a balanced diet and regular relaxation practices. She added that short breaks of five to 10 minutes after every half an hour to an hour of studying help reduce stress, along with deep breathing.The same trend has been noted at the Civil Hospital, where psychiatrist Dr Arvind Goyal has seen five to seven such patients since the exam season began. Only one required an anxiolytic drug, and the rest were managed through counselling. He advises students to practise relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and yoga, schedule their activities, exercise regularly, spend time in nature and ensure at least eight hours of sleep.Dr Goyal said parents, who mostly accompany their children, are advised to spend more time with them, offer repeated reassurance, avoid raising expectations excessively, and understand that grades do not reflect the true ability of a child. He said the same message is conveyed to the students.Counsellors in the city echoed these views. They said that along with emotional support, practical strategies and lifestyle guidance are important tools in helping students cope with academic pressure. They noted that while a small amount of stress can motivate better performance, excessive stress can lead to anxiety-related disorders.City-based clinical psychologist Dr Param Saini said they use a mix of emotional support, study-related strategies and lifestyle modifications to help students manage stress related to exams. As part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), students are guided to replace negative thoughts with more realistic ones, break large tasks into smaller achievable goals and focus on effort rather than perfection. Dr Saini added that time management, consistency, regular exercise, limited screen time and social media use, a healthy diet, hydration and adequate sleep are key components of the guidance given.She also said that parents are advised not to impose their unfulfilled ambitions on their children and to share their own failures, not only successes, so children understand that setbacks are a normal part of life.Mental-health specialists collectively emphasise that exam stress is common but manageable, and early intervention, family support and a balanced lifestyle can protect students from long-term psychological impact.Managing stress constructivelyFor students:Do relaxation exercises Take breaks for 5 to 10 minutes after every half an hour to hour while studying Take adequate sleep Do regular exercise Take health diet and maintain hydration of body Limit screen time and social media usage Spend time with family For parents:Avoid excessive pressure or comparison Provide emotional support instead of focussing only on grades and marks Encourage discipline and time management of their children Don’t have unrealistic expectation from children Share stories of their failures also besides their successes in life Monitor children’s screen time and social media usage
