Exam fever grips students, seek counselling

HYDERABAD: P Swathi, a class-X student from Vijayawada is a topper in her school. Following her brilliant performance, her school education has become free.
But the pressure to excel is taking a toll on this 16-year-old. She breaks down, gets irritable, and considers even eating a distraction. She sought help from a psychiatrist who counselled her to take it easy.
N Lathika, from an elite school in Begumpet has trouble recalling her lessons.Her mind goes blank when she sees the question paper because of which her performance in the pre-board examination was dismal. Again, she has been advised relaxation and breathing exercises by a psychiatrist.
The blues are back. It's examination time and many students are desperately seeking help to fight the overwhelming tension.
Fear, increased palpitation, withdrawal symptoms and sometimes even suicidal thoughts have started creeping into the students mind with the board exams around the corner...
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Frenetic calls from perplexed students are flooding the few examination helplines in the city. Loaded with questions on any subject, the syllabus, time-table, model papers or performance-related anxiety, students are turning to these numbers for help.
"Most of the callers are students but sometimes siblings and parents also call up for advice," said C H Ramesh Babu, project co-ordinator, children's department of Divya Disha, an NGO working in collaboration with Child helpline.
Students are even turning to psychiatrists for counselling.
"More than 30 per cent of my current patients are students trying to fight examination blues. Many of them are suffering from depression.
It is not enough for the students alone to come for counselling. Parents too need to learn where to draw the line," said A Sekhar Reddy, psychiatrist at a city hospital...
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Students seeking counselling can call up Childline at 1098 (from BSNL numbers)/ 23233550/ 23233580. For those who want to clear subject-related doubts, counselling is also available at Bal Niketan, Uppal on Saturdays and Sundays between 9 am and 4 pm.
Divya Disha can be contacted at the 24 hour helpline number 27700113/ 55209788.