Experts discuss how to deal with anxiety while ‘adulting’

Psychiatrist Dr. Panchanadikar, while explaining anxiety, said a little bit of anxiety is needed. “Till a certain level, it helps in optimal performance, but if it increases a lot, it hampers one’s functioning. It turns into a disorder when it becomes severe. Learning how to manage it helps us move forward,” he said.

He encouraged students to seek help if their anxiety is disproportionate to what a situation demands or they are anxious about everything. “We need to seek help, not just from professionals, but from friends, family,. There should be no stigma in seeking professional help as well,” Panchanadikar said.

Pachlag spoke about the anxiety that comes with running a business. “The first anxiety that hits one while starting a business is the fact that there is no regular paycheck,” said the entrepreneur who has 24 employees in his company and explained how the pressure to get payments of his employees on time is also a cause of anxiety for him.

Kulkarni, reflecting on her 28 years of experience as a teacher in competitive exams, says that the students growing up in the 21st century are dealing with new challenges of social media and the internet.

When we hear about AI, we question if the skills I am learning in college are they relevant now? That question along with figuring out where to acquire new skills have become a cause of anxiety, explained Kulkarni.