The exam season is well and truly under way for students throughout the county and, with that, there comes a unique kind of stress.
Panic, anxiety, fear about the future, guilt and despair are just some of the feelings that students might be going through right now. So, anyone coping with this stressful time needs a great deal of emotional support.
But, for students and their parents or guardians, they can be comforted in the knowledge that the Samaritans are on hand to offer 24-hour completely confidential emotional support. Samaritans volunteers don't give advice, they listen without judging.
To combat exam stress, Samaritans are offering some practical tips on information pages to be found at www.samaritans.org/talk/exams/results.shtm
"High expectations and pressure from parents, teachers or friends can push students to the brink," a Samaritan spokesperson explained, "particularly when they feel their results don't quite meet those expectations,"
"Learning how to recognise when they're under stress is one of the first steps towards dealing with it. If anyone would like to talk in confidence to a trained Samaritans volunteer, they can contact us in complete confidence through a variety of means – by phone, e-mail, text, face to face or written correspondence."
The signs of exam stress can vary and may include: lack of sleep, loss of appetite or irregular eating, panic attacks and difficulty in breathing, tight, knotty feelings in your stomach, low energy and lack of concentration, loss of interest in things around you, mood swings and feeling generally unwell or unable to relax.
Samaritans recommend talking to someone you can trust, whether that is a friend, teacher, relative or Samaritans volunteer.
You should also eat healthy food regularly and try to eat something before the exam to keep your energy and concentration levels up. Get exercise – walking, running, dancing or anything that gets those happy endorphins working in your body. Get a reasonable amount of sleep, don't be tempted to stay up late cramming last minute revision.
Parents are encouraged to look out for the signs of stress.
"As a parent, of course you want your child to do well in their exams and get brilliant results," the spokesperson went on. "But you also, of course, want them to get through the experience. Very few people take their own lives because of their exam results, but for some the stress experienced can seem difficult to cope with."
Parents should keep a careful eye out for specific signs of stress.
These include physical symptoms, such as sleeping or eating more or less than usual; mental symptoms, such as loss of concentration and interest; emotional symptoms, such as tears, tantrums, panic attacks; addictive symptoms, such as excessive drinking or smoking; self-deprecating comments; calls for help.
Parents can offer practical support, like making sure their children eat well, sleep enough, and get some exercise.
"It may be difficult to enforce, but it will make a difference. Emotional support is vital. The best thing by far is simply to listen," the spokesperson added.
Parents' attitudes will dictate children's emotions. If you panic, blame or otherwise pressurise, then your child's stress will be all the greater. Essentially, what children need to know is that they are accepted and valued for their efforts as much as for their achievements, for whether they try rather than whether they succeed.
"They can start to accept themselves, feel good about themselves and then, mysteriously, the stress they are under will begin to drop away."
