DentaltownUK April 2017 - 97

Students

STRESS, WHAT EXACTLY
IS IT AND HOW DO WE
MANAGE IT?

ADITI GOEL, 4th Year Undergraduate Student
(BDS) King's College London
stimuli were quota's and meeting requirements.
It was also shown that female students were
more stressed than male students (Rosli. T.E
et al. 2005)1. But why is it that dental students
perceive more stress? One argument that could
be put forward is that actually getting on to a
BDS course means you've been one of the best
of not the best in your previous school life.
Owing to a life of over achieving for such a
long period of time, once put in a group with
everyone who is the same, academic success is
considered the norm and it is perceived that there
is now even a need for clinical competence to be
achieved at the same time.
This transition from a school student to a dental
student can impact the academic achievement
and psychological health of many students
(Sanders, A. E. et al. 1999)2. However, then the
question arises of whether stress is a an acquired
response once students start on the dental course
or whether the course is just an accelerator of a
mental illness that was already present in the
students before inclusion in the course.
The answer to this is unknown and needs for
further research to take place. The causes for stress
are infinite and a leading topic of conversation
now is not why are we stressed but rather how
do we manage it?

MANAGING STRESS
Managing Stress is seen as a subject diverse
in itself. From simple practices such as time
management to the limited knowledge of
techniques such as yoga and acupuncture, almost
every method in the book has been recommended
to me and I'm sure my colleagues in terms of
how to stop stress getting the better of you! The
most common and easily applicable include:
Time Management- Don't leave things to the

last minute. Just because you're a dental student,
doesn't mean you shouldn't be able to enjoy
social activities like other students on different
courses. All it takes is a bit of pre- planning and
organization. Timetable enough time for both
work and play and use allocated slots efficiently.
Organization- again this refers back to pre
planning. Read up on your appointment cases
before going in to the clinic. This not only prevents
the additional stress of not knowing what's going
on but also instills patient confidence as they
recognize your abilities.
Relievers- always know what relieves you
from stress! This could be as simple as listening
to music, going for a walk or playing a sport.
Anytime you feel a stress headache coming on,
take a break and refresh your mind.
Sleep and good meals- As students, these are
the two things we either miss out on completely
or over dose on but balance is key. A healthy
sleep pattern and regular, healthy meals help to
maintain good bodily function and also prevent
hormone misbalance. Lack of both accelerate
bodily stress and it is likely to be reflected in
your attitude and work so avoid stress build up
in the first place.
Network- one of the best thing s about being
a dental student is that, not only do you meet so
many different people but you also meet so many
like-minded people. Use this to your advantage
and connect with people. Have study/revision
sessions, talk about what is stressing you out- it's
not necessary that only you can solve the reason
for your stress. Use all the available sources to
you- friends, course mates, tutors, well-being
societies; all these can help!
Take control- don't ignore stress! Though
common, ignoring it wont help anyone. Either it
will keep building up or the problem will become
a bigger issue than it is. Actively targeting the

issue is what helps solve this!
Talking about stress management is all well
and easy but applying it to everyday life is where
the challenge lies. Its normal to stress over exams,
results etc. but the key is not letting that stress
impact you physically, mentally and emotionally
to the point where it hinders you. Therefore, the
most important and my concluding point will be
ACCEPTANCE. When you change the things
you can change and accept the things you can't,
it will become easier to manage your stress. If all
fails, just drink some coffee and watch Friends...
it works for me anyway. ■

Stress accelerators
Exams
Quota's
Time
Professional
Pressure

Balance
Time
Management 20%
Organisation 20%
Relievers 20%
Network 20%
Take action 20%

References:
1. Rosli TI, Abdul Rahman R, Abdul Rahman SR, Ramli R. A survey
of perceived stress among undergraduate dental students in
Univer- siti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Singapore Dent J 2005: 27:
17-22.
2. anders AE, Lushington K. Sources of stress for Australian dental
students. J Dent Educ 1999: 63: 688-697.

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