It's not just children who are under tremendous stress during exams but also their parents. And when parents are stressed they knock the doors of psychiatrists to help them cope with it. According to shrinks, the number of parents seeking counselling is more these days as most of them don't know how to behave in front of children.
Dr Vasant Mundra, consulting psychiatrist, PD Hinduja Hospital, said, "We get calls from many parents, whose children are in their board exam year complaining about stress and depression. If parents are stressed out, the child automatically suffers. We need to devalue the education system instead of trying to change the system."
Many parents relive their exam fever through their children's exams. Most psychologists believe that parents need as much help as their children. "Their entire focus is on the child that they give little attention to their own needs," said Dr Mundra.
According to doctors, parents come to them for counselling throughout the year with some or the other academic worry of their kids. The number only peaks during January to March.
Psychiatrists request the parents to avoid discussing with other parents or check things on the internet. "We ask the parents not to discuss matters with other parents about their child's progress. They must not do much research on the internet as the internet might misguide them and it can only add up to their anxiety. Parents anxiety has a negative impact on the child," said Dr Parul Tank, psychiatrist at Fortis Hospital, Mulund.
Tips for parents to deal with children this exam season
Do not constantly nag or lecture children about their future
Ensure they eat healthy food and get enough sleep
Take offs and stay with the child as s/he prepares for the board exams
Stay calm and do not panic with your child's performance in prelims
Tips for children
Don't waste too much time on a subject or topic
Be honest to your tutors
Take small breaks in between your studies. But don't let your breaks become longer than your study time
Don't bother about how much you'll get, direct your attention to your present portion
Meet people with positive attitude
How do exams affect parents?
Tiredness
Insomnia
Cough and cold
Irritability towards each other
Aches and pains all over the body
Fever
Memory lapses
How can parental stress affect children?
Lack of desire to study
Periods of memory lapses
Inability to concentrate for long periods
Ailments like headache, body ache, mild fever, cough or cold
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