“Why are students ‘feeling’ more nowadays”

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim.

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barkatuhu.

Dear friends,

I hope you are all well with the infinite mercy of Allah Almighty. I am also well and healthy to accept your prayers and the infinite mercy of Allah Almighty.

“Why are students ‘feeling’ more nowadays”

In the present time, the student-centered social environment, the education system, technology, family—everything is changing rapidly. Under the influence of these changes, today’s students are facing various mental stress, emotional tension, social inconsistencies, and future uncertainty. As a result, they are “feeling” more than ever before—that is, experiencing excessive sensitivity, mental stress, sadness, frustration, emotional reactions, loneliness, lack of self-esteem, etc. Why they are in such a state is analyzed here.

✦ 1. Technology and Smartphone Dependence

Today’s students are most influenced by smartphones and social media.

Being online 24 hours a day is destroying their mental peace.

Seeing the luxurious life, success, appearance, and popularity of others makes them feel inferior.

Loneliness and depression are increasing as they are more involved in virtual life than in real life.

Notifications, videos, and reels are constantly stimulating their brains, causing emotions to not settle.

Because of this, they are feeling more pain, sadness, or stress even in small matters.

✦ 2. Burden of pressure and expectations in the family

Families in the subcontinent, including Bangladesh, generally place high expectations on their children.

Everyone wants their children to become doctors, engineers, or famous people.

A “fail” or low marks is viewed negatively by the family.

Parents’ quarrels, financial crises, social comparisons—all of these become a mental burden on the students.

As a result, they feel worthless and break down emotionally.

✦ 3. Competition in the education system

The current education system is largely score-centric.

Competition is so high that everyone feels pressure to do better than others.

Skills, creativity, joy—these have lost value.

Along with studies, coaching, assignments, exams—all of these put pressure on the head.

As a result of pressure, they experience depression, anxiety, and emotional fluctuations more.

✦ 4. Social Comparison

When students compare themselves with others' successes, relationships, looks, and financial status on social media, they feel—

“I am nothing.”

“My life is not good.”

“I am behind.”

This comparison lowers their self-esteem, which leads to more sadness, incompleteness, and emotional trauma.

✦ 5. Loneliness and uncertainty in friendship

Nowadays, friendships are not as deep as they used to be.

There are many “friends” online, but few people who actually have friends.

Cheating, misunderstandings, and relationship breakdowns—these happen all too often.

No one gets time to understand someone else's emotions.

This makes them feel alone and "feel" even small events as big sorrows.

✦ 6. Instability in love

Love relationships are now very common among teenagers and young adults, but unstable.

Relationships are formed quickly, and then they break up quickly.

Expectations are high, tolerance is low.

Breakups or misunderstandings cause extreme mental stress.

As a result, they feel hurt and broken.

✦ 7. Uncertainty about the future

In the current era, jobs, careers, and economic situations are very uncertain.

Students are wondering, "Will I get a job after completing my studies?"

Unemployment rates, competition, and changes in qualifications in society all make the future seem dark.

Fear and uncertainty about the future make their emotional side even more fragile.

✦ 8. Awareness about mental health

A positive reason is that students are more aware now than before.

They can understand their own mental state.

They do not hide sadness, stress, anxiety.

This awareness may also make them feel like they are “feeling more”, although they are just expressing more.

✦ 9. Social pressure and negative ideas

No one is easily accepted in society.

Criticism is only a small failure.

Calling someone bad if they act the way they want.

Being jealous when they see someone more successful than themselves.

These social behaviors hurt the minds of students greatly.

✦ 10. Lack of life skills

Today's students know a lot of technology, but

Tolerating hardship

Self-control

Problem solving

Emotion control

— these skills are lacking.

As a result, they are more mentally affected by any minor incident.

✦ 11. Lack of sleep, food and exercise

Using mobile phones at night

Unhealthy food

Lack of exercise

— These destabilize the hormones in the brain, resulting in apathy, sadness, anger, and emotional changes.

The main reason why students are currently “feeling” more is the pressure of technology, expectations of family and society, competition from the education system, uncertainty of the future, friendship and relationship problems, and various emotional and mental stressors. These factors together have softened their mental structure.

However, the hope is—

With the right guidance, a positive environment in the family, moderate use of technology, healthy habits, and mental health education—students can overcome this crisis. If today's students can find the right path, they will become the strongest and most productive people in the future.