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Mental Stressors
Associated with Certain
Life Stages and
Events
People are vulnerable to experiencing different
mental health issues at certain stages in life depicted on
the Human Life Cycle above. This may relate to transitioning
from one stage of life to another or major changes
which impose extra stress on you. It is always difficult to
accept and adjust to the new and your mental health is at
risk whenever change happens depending on which life
stage you are. People react differently to changes like
moving to another school, starting or finishing
university, starting a new job, adjusting to chronic
illness, moving away from friends or family
and retirement. This can have a severe
impact on the general health and well-being
of an individual hence the need
for support and information on how
to cope. There is no single "right
way" to react or handle change as
some of may be deeply affected by
events than others. Everyone is different.
Our genes, life experiences, upbringing and environment
all affect our mental health and influence how we think
and respond to situations. It can also depend on how well
other parts of our life are going or how supported we feel.
Being aware of these factors may make it easier to understand
when we or someone we care about are struggling.
Common Mental Stressors by Stage in
Life
1. Pregnancy to becoming a new parent
This stage can as well include postnatal depression.
24 Mental Balance Issue 1 Feb 2022
The Human Life Cycle
Becoming a parent can be exciting but also very challenging
and physically demanding. Research has revealed that
a majority of new mothers feel that they are at breaking
point. Commonly experienced issues include anxiety
(36%) and post-natal depression (12%). Nearly two-thirds
(63%) of new mums asked said that their self-esteem had
decreased since becoming a parent, while fewer than one
in 10 (9%) felt more confident following the
birth of their child .
2. Childhood
years – starting
schools,
changing
schools and
the move to
high school
The beginning of school is a time of transition for both
parents and children. Children enter a completely new
environment, the school where they encounter a different
set of expectations to their home life. They have to learn
a whole new set of social skills, such as how to get along
with others and how to be resilient when they don’t get
what they want. In younger kids, psychological distress
might manifest as new or worsening behavioral problems,
difficulty separating from parents or caregivers, or somatic
symptoms such as aches and pains or changes in sleep
routines or appetite. Older kids can also experience
somatic symptoms as well as fear, nervousness, stress,
irritability, and hypervigilance. In the academic context,
symptoms could include difficulty concentrating, motivation,
or school refusal.