Patna: NEET aspirants scheduled to appear for the retest on Sunday are facing a renewed spell of stress and uncertainty, with many families also having to bear additional expenses on travel, lodging and other arrangements to reach examination centres. Several students said the prospect of taking the examination again has been demotivating and has affected their ability to maintain the same level of focus and preparation.
Clinical psychologists, however, said the stress can be managed through structured routines, family support and healthy coping practices.
Archie Srivastava, a second-time dropper from Motihari, said, “I had finally started feeling that I was out of the examination cycle. We had begun looking at colleges, and I was preparing to move ahead. Having to appear again has brought back uncertainty and anxiety. It is not easy to return to the same level of preparation.”
Maitri Nandani, 20, said many students had invested everything into the first attempt and are now struggling to replicate the same level of effort. “After the exam, many of us sold our books, notes and study material because admission seemed certain. It is difficult to return to the same routine after weeks away from studies,” she said.
Maitri has also relocated to Patna for the retest. She said accommodation, food and other basic expenses are costing her over Rs 15,000 for a month.
Amisha Anand, who also shifted back to Patna to reappear for NEET, said, “I am not able to sleep properly. There is anxiety about the paper pattern, the level of difficulty and what will happen if there are fresh irregularities.”
Clinical psychologist Isha Singh said the emotional impact of the retest was understandable given the circumstances.
“Some students may experience symptoms like heaviness in the chest, stomach discomfort and a sense of panic before or during the examination. While anxiety cannot be eliminated, it can be effectively managed,” she said.
She advised students to maintain regular sleep schedules, avoid abrupt lifestyle changes, focus on revision, keep examination-related documents ready in advance and spend a quiet evening with family before the test.
Dr Santosh Kumar, HOD, psychiatry, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, said, “Most students, owing to anxiety, have reported palpitations and restlessness. They are also facing sleep-related difficulties, and some have slipped into depression. A majority of them have had to shift back to their coaching hubs, leading to adjustment issues.”
He added that to cope with such situations, students can practise the ‘3Ds’ — displacement (change place, step out into a garden or take a walk), drinking water in small sips, and deep breathing. The last two can also be practised in the exam hall if they feel anxious during the paper. To break the mental spiral, aspirants should recall positive situations or moments of achievement, he said.
“A poor prior experience with the exam has created negative apprehension among students, making them more anxious about reappearing for the test than they were the first time. They gave their 100% for the exam, yet they are stuck in a loop leading to burnout. When these feelings persist, they result in stress and anxiety. A large number of students who fail to cope with high stress levels fall prey to mental disorders, and a few have even succumbed to suicide,” said Dr Pankaj Kumar, HOD, psychiatry, AIIMS Patna.
