Why is stress taking the form of "suicide" in society?

Why is stress becoming a cause for suicide? 

Image: Idiogram
of a young man under stress. 

Stress is increasing rapidly in India .  Take  the recent  case of Ernest Young IT Company. In which a 26 year old woman Anna Sebastian Perayil who was a chartered accountant died due to long working hours  . This incident attracted everyone's attention and people started talking about how big a problem stress is in our growing times. There is a need to think about this  . 

If we look at the figures, they are shocking.

In 2021, the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) published a study on long working hours. Working 55 hours or more a week is more harmful than working 35–40 hours a week. It increases the risk of premature death.1

According to ILO, India is ranked 13th out of 170 countries in the world. Its average weekly working hours are 46.7 hours .

If we look at the cases of suicide due to long working hours, they are serious.

In the year 2022, it was 2593, which has been recorded as 2083 in 2023.

Image-Ideogram
of a child presenting with stress. 

Apart from this, there are frequent news published in newspapers about students  failing in their classes . Many times they commit suicide due to the constant stress of their future . According to the N. Epidemic Survey India Reports, about 35,000 students are committing suicide every day. Between the years 2018-2022, 59153 students committed suicide .

Mental health is also responsible for this. A report by Uniface says that in India, 1 out of every 7 people between 15 and 24 is struggling with mental health. If we look at the states, we will find that cases of suicide are more in Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh . We also see a similar situation among the candidates trying for jobs.

Stress has become more than just a problem in today's time. We cannot define it as a disease, because it can be managed. Nor is it the same as a disease. You can call it a disorganized cause. It is a result of not managing work properly.

Before this, let us know whether all types of stress are harmful or fatal for us? No, it is not so.

Uterine stress - According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Uterine stress (a noun) is positive stress, which comes from positive challenges or exciting experiences .

Its importance-
This stress creates energy and enthusiasm in a person, which helps in achieving the set goals . It also
creates determination, which is necessary during competitive sports. It gives rise to a satisfying, contented feeling, which occurs after achieving a goal.

Along with this, sometimes negativity is also necessary for us.

It also works to create a balance between disturbing things and positivity , because sometimes negativity is also helpful in achieving your  goals .

It releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare the body for immediate response or to face challenges.
Its effect also depends on our experience . If a task is easy for person ' a' , it may be difficult or complex for person ' b' . It depends on personal preferences and goals.

We just used a word; distress, which is also a type of stress, how is it different from uterine stress?

When stress is excessive or uncontrolled, it harms a person's physical and mental health. If it persists for a long time, it can cause depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses.
Ways to reduce
this stress : Yes, it can be reduced through meditation, exercise and stress management techniques.

Now let us understand stress.

According to Wikipedia- If we look up the word tension in Wikipedia, we will not get the expected results. Stress (In the language of biology- Stress describes the reaction of a living thing to some danger or some unpleasant change in its environment. Stress describes the reaction of a living thing to some danger or some adverse change in its environment. Adversity- It is bad, irrational, uncontrolled and unwanted stress.

S. Folkman3 ( 1984 ) has termed stress  as arising from an imbalance between demands and resources. S. Palmer explains stress in more depth. 

S. Palmer (1989) defines stress as the psychological, behavioural and physiological response by an individual when they perceive that there is a lack of balance between the demands placed on them and their ability to meet those demands, which over time leads to poor health.

According to Medline Plus 4 - Stress is a feeling of physical or physiological stress. It can be caused by any event, thought or situation that makes you feel frustrated, angry or afraid.

If we look at it more closely, we find the term stress coined by psychologist Hans Shelley . Shelley has divided it into two types.

Uterus - also called moderate or desired stress - such as when playing competitive sports.

 

What are the causes of stress?

If we pay attention to the definition of S. Palmer, we will understand that stress is a psychological, behavioral and physical reaction. It occurs in response to an event that cannot be restricted, controlled, limited and resolved. Stress starts arising in such situations. There can be many reasons behind it. This includes not getting married, worry of divorce, not having children, fear of failure. Apart from this-

Financial stress - Financial worry is a common cause of stress, which everyone faces these days. Especially in its changed form after Corona. In the growing commercialism, worry about money has also become a cause of stress. Every person is struggling with this, but creating an atmosphere of stress around you can make it more complicated.

Fear of unemployment - Today many people are unhappy, disappointed and troubled due to this, if we talk about the youth then they are facing more stress due to lack of employment. Due to stress people are committing suicide. This is a major point of stress, which in the present time has become an unstable stress due to AI technology. In recent times, the fear arising from unemployment has increased. 

Health changes - Stress starts building up due to any illness for a long time. Often, diseases that are incurable occur. Stress keeps increasing due to constant health instability.

Undesirable event- When any incident or accident happens suddenly in a person's life, which he is unable to handle properly, then it becomes stressful for him. Many times a person also becomes a victim of depression for a long time due to an undesirable incident.

Family problems - Family environment is also responsible for stress. How the family reacts to any incident. How they look at any problem. Do they see it as a solution or a headache. This tells a lot about them. When a person is a part of such a family whose outlook is negative, then it is natural for the person to have stress.

Addiction- To reduce stress some people turn to addiction. After some time they stop taking the addiction. 

They become a victim of addiction. Instead of reducing their problems, addiction leads them to more stress. Like financial problems, bad behaviour, health problems, waste of time and getting entangled in bad company etc.

 

What effect does stress have on the mind?

Stress has a profound effect on the psyche. Being stressed for a long time increases the risk of diseases like irritability, sadness, depression, anxiety, fear, insomnia in a person. Just like insomnia, it also affects memory. As a result of memory, it creates obstacles in decision making and concentration. 

What effect does it have on physical health?

According to Yashoda Hospital 5 , stress has a profound effect on physical health. It can lead to headaches, fatigue, stomach upset, mental tension, frequent colds or infections, heart problems, digestive problems, irritable bowel syndrome (IVS), weight changes, hormonal imbalances and compromised immune system.

 

What effect does addiction or drug abuse have on stress?

According to Dr. Ashutosh Srivastava  , a person moves towards addiction after suffering any kind of abuse or trauma. 

Symptoms of stress-

According to Medicover 7 - Now that we know how to identify stress, there are some symptoms of it such as-

• Feeling restless.
• Not being able to sleep properly.
• Constipation problem.
• Having a headache.
• Lack of energy.
• Shiver.
• Getting sick frequently.
• Sticky or sweaty palms.
• Decrease in sex drive.
• Change in mood.

 

Types of stress-

• Acute stress-​

• Chronic stress-

• Episodic Acute Stress-

• Eustress –

• Distress-

Out of the above five stresses, we have already known about users and distrusts above.

1. Acute stress - This is the most common type of stress, we face it in our daily lives, this stress can be more positive or unpleasant in the near future. Such as exam stress, stress experienced by employees regarding performance when deadlines are approaching, stress experienced after a natural event, emotional stress during an argument or dispute with a relative, stress arising due to marriage, divorce or even a change of job.

2. Chronic stress - This stress is defined as persistent and unavoidable, such as the stress of a broken marriage or a physically demanding job. Traumatic events and childhood trauma can also contribute to this stress.

3. Episodic acute stress - Acute stress that becomes a way of life, and seems uncontrollable. It results in constant distress in life. This is known as episodic acute stress. For example, when a person fears repaying a loan or losing a job, this stress puts him under acute stress. Struggling to meet expectations, being at risk of a serious illness, etc.

What is the situation of tension in India?

Image - Microsoft Designer
An Indian youth thinking about some doubt. 

“ When I was younger , my parents got married and had a family,” Anisha, a 22-year-old student from Bangalore, told DW. “But I don't feel I'm ready for any kind of adult stuff. What's the point of having kids? There's bad news everywhere. There's no hope.” “Whenever I look at social media, it seems like everyone else is living a better life than me. But you can't really ignore social media, ” she says . 

“ Mohit, a 24-year-old from New Delhi, told DW that his friends find it difficult to navigate a career in the early stages of education. Mohit studied in college mostly during the coronavirus pandemic. When things returned to normal, he became a working professional. According to him, all workplaces are toxic and their work-life balance is bad. His generation is not ready to accept this at all .  ”

If we look at the current situation in India, we will find that India has the largest youth population in the world. Which is essential for its progress . According to a study among the youth of today, about 77% had at least one symptom of stress. One in three Indians was suffering from anxiety and stress. Since, relatively, the youth, especially the “Gen-G” who were born between 1994 and 2009, are more likely to suffer from stress, anxiety and chronic diseases.

Tall working horses also promote stress.

According to data published in Down to Earth , in 2019, about 35 percent of the population suffered from headaches caused by stress and migraine. According to a research published in The Lancet Global Health, during 2019, about 48.8 crore people were suffering from migraine and stress disorders.

There has been a twofold increase in non-communicable neurological disorders such as epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's, stress, dementia from 1990 to 2019. In 1990, it was 4%, which has increased to 8.2% in 2019.

Now let us also look at the ways how we can reduce stress.

Image - Microsoft designer
depicting time restriction through mobile, books, music, phone, watch.  

Ways to reduce stress-

1. Yoga and meditation

Yoga and meditation are highly effective for achieving mental peace and balance. These not only improve physical health but also reduce mental stress. Doing yoga regularly increases flexibility in the body and provides stability of mind.

2. Pranayama and exercise

Pranayama, which is based on breathing techniques, helps control stress. Regular exercise releases endorphins, which improve mood. It also strengthens physical health.

3. Eat good food

A balanced diet is important for mental health. Fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids help reduce stress. Junk food should be avoided as it can affect mental health.

4. Reading books

Reading books is a great way to keep your mind occupied and relieve stress. It is not only informative but also takes a person to a new world, allowing him to get away from his stressful thoughts.

5. Doing Favorite Things

Spending time doing what you love is a simple way to reduce stress. Whether it is art, music, or any other hobby, these activities make a person happy and relieve mental fatigue.

6. Make a list of daily tasks

Making a daily to-do list helps a person take control of their tasks. Not only does it make task management easier, it also provides mental clarity.

7. Restrict your activities

Limiting your tasks is essential to avoid excessive workload. This helps one maintain maximum productivity and reduces stress levels.

8. Take advice

Sometimes seeking advice from a trusted person can be helpful in reducing stress. It helps clarify one's thoughts and find solutions.

9. Adopt good company

Spending time with positive and supportive people is beneficial for mental health. Good company boosts a person's morale and reduces stress.

10. Get good sleep

Getting enough sleep is essential for mental health. Lack of sleep can increase stress and anxiety, while good sleep provides energy and keeps the mind calm.

11. Listening to music

Listening to music is an easy way to reduce stress. Listening to peaceful or favorite music can improve mood and improve mental state.

12. Get technical help

There are many apps and online resources available today that can help with stress management. These resources provide support through meditation, yoga, and other techniques.

13. Avoid negativity

It is important to stay away from negative thoughts and people. Adopting a positive attitude improves a person's mental health and reduces stress.

14. Social support

Getting support from family and friends is essential for mental health. Social contact helps a person not feel lonely and reduces stress.

15. Humor and happiness

Finding reasons to laugh and be happy is also an effective way to reduce stress. Humor brings positivity in life and reduces mental stress.

Steps taken by the Indian Government-

 

The Government of India has issued several policies and helpline numbers to solve problems related to mental health and stress. Their aim is to provide citizens access to mental health services and provide them proper assistance. Some of the major policies and helpline numbers are as follows:

1. Mental Healthcare Act, 2017
This Act ensures access to mental health services and protects the rights of mentally ill persons. Under this, mental health care services have been expanded and the government has been given the responsibility to provide proper and timely treatment.

2. National Mental Health Program (NMHP)
The aim of this program is to make mental health services accessible across the country and spread awareness related to mental health among the population. Under this, mental health institutes and treatment centers have been opened in many states.

3. Kiran Helpline - 1800-599-0019
The Government of India has launched a toll-free national helpline called 'Kiran' to deal with mental health problems. This helpline is available 24x7 and provides support in various languages. It aims to provide immediate help to people suffering from mental health problems, stress, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues.

4. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Programs
The Government of India and many state governments are also running treatment programs like CBT for mental health awareness and stress reduction, which helps people to change the way they think and manage stress better.

5. NIMHANS Helpline
A helpline run by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru is also available which is helpful in comprehensively accessing mental health services. Their helpline number is: 080-46110007.

Quotes that inspire us to make stress work.

🙶 Kobe Bryant-Everything negative - the pressure, the challenges - is an opportunity for me to rise”

“Zayn Malik - Speaking the truth is the best way to handle my anxiety”

“Mahesh Bhupathi-Mental strength is very important in sports. Managing stress and focusing on your game is the key to success”

“Deepika Padukone-I have learned that it is very important to give priority to mental health. We should give ourselves time and understand our emotions”

“Sachin Tendulkar- Handling stress in sports is an art. We should not let it hinder our performance, rather make it an inspiration for ourselves”

“Kiran Bedi-To manage stress, we need to change our thinking and attitude. Positivity is the best way to reduce stress 🙷

conclusion -

We have seen all the aspects of stress. We have also paid attention to the recent incident which happened due to Long Working Horse. Apart from this, we have also paid attention to the symptoms, types, definition of stress as well as the situation in India.

We have also told in our article how to reduce stress. Along with all this, we cannot deny the fact that stress can be completely eliminated. So, this is not completely possible, because it depends on the reasons. We can work on it.

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