Female students have mental disorders due to academic pressure

Seeing that their daughter had missed her period for three consecutive months, along with nausea, her family took her to an obstetrician for examination because she was worried about pregnancy, but the results showed that she had an anxiety disorder.

This female student has been a good student for many years and got into her dream high school. After the 10th grade entrance exam, I started having headaches, dizziness, and difficulty sleeping. Entering the new school year, I am often nervous, restless, insecure, worried that my friends won’t like me, and afraid of becoming a financial burden to my parents even though my family is not in difficulty. Many nights, I stayed up until 2-3 am but didn’t share because I was afraid my parents would worry.

Prolonged lack of sleep makes female students tired, irritable, loss of appetite, and reduced academic performance. After that, I missed my period for three consecutive months, accompanied by nausea. The family took her to an obstetrician for fear of being pregnant and checked for other causes. Results of obstetric examination and testing and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed no abnormalities. The female student was transferred to the psychiatric department.

According to MSc Nguyen Kim Anh, Institute of Mental Health, Bach Mai Hospital, the female student’s symptoms are consistent with anxiety disorders at school age. Patients are treated with medication combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy. After 6 months, my headaches stopped, I slept better, my menstrual cycle returned and my ability to study recovered.

A survey of 9,781 young people 15-24 years old in Vietnam during the Covid-19 period recorded that 15.6% had symptoms of anxiety ranging from mild to very severe. Children who are easily anxious, have difficulty regulating emotions, lack confidence, or have experienced mental health problems are at higher risk. Pressure from family, school and social networks can also cause anxiety to appear or worsen.

Parents who set too high expectations, often criticize, compare, lack of listening, or have family conflicts can put children under more pressure. At school, pressure to study, take exams, compete for achievements, bullying or difficulty integrating with friends are also risk factors.

On social networks, children easily compare themselves with others in terms of appearance, achievements and life. Prolonged use of electronic devices, especially at night, also reduces sleep quality and can make anxiety worse.

Children with anxiety disorders may be insecure, easily startled, afraid of making mistakes or being judged, have difficulty relaxing, have negative thoughts, and have decreased concentration. Physical symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, heart palpitations, nervousness, hand tremors, sweating, difficulty breathing, sleep disorders and persistent fatigue.

MSc Vu Son Tung, Institute of Mental Health, said adolescence is a period of many psychological changes for children. Children begin to form their own opinions and promote privacy, while parents still tend to guide and teach. If this gap is not narrowed, it can cause children to share less. Many children keep their difficulties a secret because they fear their parents will worry or think they don’t understand them.

“Parents should become companions, actively listen and pay attention to changes in their children’s sleep, emotions, behavior and academic performance,” said Dr. Tung.

Adequate sleep, a balanced diet, regular exercise and limiting phone use at night are also factors that help children maintain mental health. When anxiety persists or begins to noticeably affect learning, living, and relationships, children should be evaluated at a medical facility with psychiatric or psychological expertise.