We have often heard people saying school life is the best, it's stress free, no pressure, and comes with a lot of free time. It might not be really true. As a student you come to realize there are two sides to this coin and people are smitten just by one side. The other side of coin which we are talking about gets relatable because half of our childhood memories are processed when we don’t have a fully developed range of emotions, and most of them are of us playing or studying so they are not hefty though some things we remember proactively because these memories carry a weightage. But, when the same student enters college the emotions are fully developed and also post puberty, so the weightage automatically shifts from light to menial.
Every student in their course of time experience anxiety without or with realizing it, irrespective of being an introvert or extrovert, basically anxiety is a worry, uneasiness, uncomfort, like thousands of butterflies dancing in your stomach which you can feel before a test, or during results, or when teacher asks a question, while answering a question in front of class, being late, during vivas, entering into the class, or when you have to make new friends, asking a doubt, or talking to a professor. A worry in mind about future circumstances or what might take place, how to deal with it and what would be the results. Usually we are advised these are trivial problems or it will go away after the situation is tackled or it's just a state of mind. This advice does not affect the person who is facing these issues. School students at early stages face it and overcome it because they are unaware of this term, and this helps them, they often tackle it by playing, watching cartoons which distracts their mind to an extent where they forget these problems and continuity regularizes it. If it is to an extent where it is beyond limits, the person must consult a child psychologist regarding the same.
Everyone has a way of tackling anxiety because the mind always has a solution for the body. The most common and automatic body response to anxiety is shaking legs while feeling stressed or anxious as it releases the tension and provides instant relief. Anxiety usually starts in the brain and circulates to the body.
Positive effect and necessity of anxiety in student’s life:-
The necessity of anxiety? Anxiety is necessary because it warns the mind and body about a particular event to which both of them react in alertness and awareness. You may welcome this anxiety, at least to a certain extent. It would help you learn. Anxiety is, indeed, a common reaction to stress. It saves us from being careless and hence from accidental disasters. It also makes the mind realize that the situation is closer and the person needs to start responding to it.
For example:-
Before a test or exam if you feel anxious you would study more for it, which would result in getting good results. Same applies to viva or an oral examination. Or before a football match or competition if you practice more due to anxiety, it would lead into better results. The otherwise effect would not be completely opposite though.
When this saves your mind and turns it into a good outcome of the situation, it is a positive effect.
Some ways to deal with anxiety:-
1. Diversion of mind
Whenever you feel anxious, you must start thinking about a completely vague situation or a topic which you have never given a thought to. This takes off the mind from the current situation and helps.
2. Count of three
A count of three when you start inhaling, holding it up to the count of three, exhaling it to the count of three, repeating it at least three times, this style of breathing calms the body to an extent where you feel light and totally distracted from the anxiety situation. This way is the most effective, common and instant solution to calm yourself in any situation.
3. Cold water
Drinking lots of water, calms the body to an extent where it rejuvenates or just that cold water, when it goes inside and makes you realize, it is directly reaching the abdomen.
4. Comfort food
Eating your comfort food is also a way to calm anxiety because that solution directly reaches the body and results in a calming effect.
5. Desserts or chewables
These eateries can weaken the body's ability to respond to stress and thus calms the person.
6. Talking to a friend
Talking to a friend, parent, grandparent, or any relative and speaking your heart out helps calm anxiety to an extent, this method comes with absolute results.
7. Stressbusters
A stress ball or any stress relieving equipment can calm anxiety. Best example for this would be cupid.
8. Watching a movie or comfort show
Any favorite movie or series would completely divert the mind from the stressful situation and calm anxiety.
9. A pet
A pet or meeting any animal which is preferred can help a lot with calming the anxiety.
10. Talking to yourself
Talking and motivating yourself instead of relying on motivational videos results positively. For example saying to yourself I can do this and proving your inner state of mind wrong.
11. Perspective
Sometimes even after a lot of efforts, advice, students are unable to overcome anxiety because the mind is working in a negative state. When there is a change of state of mind by ownself or by some other factor, gaining a new perspective is very mandatory to overcome your anxiety, fears.
These all methods are applicable when anxiety is not severe and faced by a student. A lot of more things like environmental factors, health factors, upbringing, family health history, heredity, perception, state of mind, current and past life of a student give rise to anxiety or help calm it totally depending on the situation or the factor mentioned above. Though, anxiety should never be ignored because obviously it is equally or in fact more important and should be maintained and taken care of just like when facing a fever or bodily issue.
-By Maanvi Pahuja