Panic disorders rising among children, says AIIMS

New Delhi: Cut throat competition among the urban population in the national capital has given rise to severe anxiety, panic disorders and stress.

Doctors have seen an increase in the cases of those seeking psychiatric help and a large number of them are people from the upper middle class or corporate professionals. Not only the working culture, the socio-cultural environment has said to have taken a toll on the minds of school children who due to stress are unable to cope with the academic challenges thrown at them.

Shedding more light on the recent trend, Dr Rajesh Sagar, professor, Psychiatry Department at AIIMS, said, “People in corporate jobs who make daily presentations are consulting for common disorders like anxiety. They have to get their appraisals and they are unable to cope up with stress. This is a trend we are seeing these days”.

An increase in cases of school children who are stressed due to their non-performance in class is also being witnessed. It is either the parents who bring their kids to the psychiatrists when they see their child visibly stressed or they are being advised by private school teachers to do so.

A lot of patients also come because they are hooked  online and on social media. The doctor said that this is taking place because of a decrease in support systems Another trend that the hospital is seeing is a lot of couples, married and unmarried both, coming with relationship issues.

“The society is going through a transition phase. It is a changing the socio-cultural environment. There is more stress and poor support systems. Everybody wants to do their best and come first that there is no place for mediocrity, whether it be school, college or in work spaces. This is pushing them towards anxiety and stress,” said Dr Sagar.

The doctor said that the increase in the number of such patients is increasing because there is more awareness and open mindedness in society with regard to seeking help.