STRESS LESS: It Is important for students to manage stress while studying for exams.
HEADSPACE clinical service integration manager Peter Rohr said he has seen a noticeable increase in central west HSC students seeking mental health advice in the lead-up to the exams.
Mr Rohr said it was important students manage their stress early as drawn out periods of stress could lead to more serious health complications. He said there was a potential for students to develop anxiety disorders and depression.
“Exams are often seen by young people as big issues in their life and they are but it’s important to find a balance,” he said.
“It’s when it [stress] becomes so drawn out it can become overwhelming.”
Mr Rohr said in worst case scenarios he had seen students completely withdraw from their studies because they have not coped with stress effectively.
He said they give up.
One of the common concerns from students was that they feel like they haven’t studied effectively.
“We’ve had a lot of young people getting stressed because they think the way they have have studied isn’t ideal,” he said.
“Schools often aren’t aware that the student might be struggling with how they study.”
He said students often present to their doctors with physical manifestations of stress such as nausea and headaches. He said it was important they are aware of the underlying cause.
Orange Christian School HSC student Kaitlyn Chapman-Mortimer said she was coping with the stress of impending exams for now.
“I can see it all in the right proportion but as it gets closer it will get out of proportion,” she said.
Kaitlyn said she had a plan of attack for dealing with the stress.
“Try and keep focused on what’s important and do the right things,” she said.
She said she believed it was important to take regular breaks during study, exercise and eat properly.
If stress is impacting on your life head to www.headspace.org.au