Health: Beating stress at testing times

GP Dr Zahid Chauhan

Words such as pressure, panic and anxiety are increasingly used in our vocabulary to describe our hectic adult lives say local GP, Dr Zahid Chauhan.

But did you know that recent research is showing that our children are also displaying dangerous tendencies towards stress, especially around exam time.

In fact, a study of schools has shown that eight out of ten heads are worried that fear of failure is leading to mental health issues for their pupils.

Disturbingly, this manifested itself in uncontrollable panic attacks and even self-harm amongst their children.

As a GP, I am seeing an increasing amount of patients struggling to cope with some of the issues life throws at them – particularly debt, unemployment and family breakdowns. As well as emotional distress, this can result in high blood pressure and a reduced immune system meaning increased colds and greater susceptibility to viruses.

Stomach problems such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) are often attributed to stress; and then there are all the bad coping mechanisms people use to curb anxiety such as smoking, drinking and unhealthy diets.

There are those – including business leaders and even eminent psychologists – who claim that some stress can lead to success and really help you push the boundaries and challenge yourself. Stress becomes dangerous and negative however when people simply cannot cope, and the danger signs include mood swings, increased irritability and a lack of sleep.

The first steps in busting stress are to realise you have a problem and regain control of your life.

Speaking to others will show you that people care and have probably endured stressful times themselves.

A few minutes of planning, assessing and reflecting can significantly alter the course of your day as can adopting a positive attitude.

Work smarter, not harder, and set goals that are challenging but achievable.

NHS endorsed programmes such as Mindfulness teach us the importance of thinking about the here and now, what we can control, rather than worrying about the future and issues we can do nothing about. Read more about this at:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/mindfulness.aspx

Helping others can also take your mind off your own situation and, as I have seen when working with volunteers at food banks and homeless shelters, can make you more emotionally resilient. When you see the situation some folks are in, it makes you more appreciative of what you have!

When it comes to reducing anxiety, the best medicine I can recommend is activity. Exercise promotes chemicals in your brain called endorphins, which produce feelings of happiness. A long walk or run can clear your head and order your thoughts, allowing you to assess your problems calmly.

Exercise and volunteering take time out, and that’s an important factor too. Whether you are trying to complete a pressured task at work or have your head in a book revising, a few moments of ‘me’ time could be hugely productive and reduce the stress that is making such a mess of modern life today.