A Critical Review on the Scope of Management of Academic Stress in Adolescents with Sattvavajaya Chikitsa (Ayurved Psychotherapy)

Abstract

The adolescent stage of life is unique having various physical and psychological changes occurring in the body and in the brain. Academic stress (AS) is largely responsible for adolescents developing mental illnesses. A competitive environment, the pursuit of high scores in marks, peer comparisons, and parental expectations are the most common stressors for an adolescent to develop AS. Early identification of the stressed person, his sensitivity toward stress, and appropriate stress coping can help a person to develop the strength for coping with various stressful situations. Reports and articles published online from the year 1995 to 2022 were taken into account among them 95 articles were identified of which 25 articles had abstracts only were excluded and 70 articles including textbook references were reviewed and discussed. Ayurveda has the unique concept of Prakriti (~somatic constitution) helps a person to recognize himself and to realize his strengths and weaknesses, through which one can ignore or manage stressful situations. This stress coping can be more emphasized with the practice of Sattvavajaya Chikitsa(~Ayurvedic psychotherapy). Sattvavajaya Chikitsa works based on Manonigraha (control of the mind). Sadvrittta (~code of conduct for mental health), Swasthavritta (~measure to uplift general health), Achar Rasayana (~Ayurved code of conduct), Yoga, Surya Namaskar (~sun salutation), and meditation are different ways to practice mindfulness. Proper practice of Manonigraha (~control of mind) creates a connection between the mind, psyche, and body. The long-term practice of Manonighraha helps an academically stressed individual to better cope with stress and has finer mental and physical health.