Session on “Managing Anxiety as an Academic Researcher” by Prof. Jyoti Grewal

Chandigarh, 23 May, 2025: The Department cum Centre for Women’s Studies and Development organised an interactive session on “Managing Anxiety as an Academic Researcher”. The session was conducted byProf. Jyoti Grewal (Dean and Professor of History (Retd.), American University of Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and Certified Life Coach, California, USA). 

The session commenced with a warm welcome by the Chairperson of the department, Prof. Rajesh Kumar Chander.  The speaker began the session with an informal interaction, engaging participating researchers in a discussion about their Ph.D. topics. This initial engagement fostered a comfortable environment conducive to open discussion. Following this,the speaker delivered a presentation focusing on the distinction between academic stress and anxiety. She defined stress as a natural physiological response to external pressures and anxiety as an internalised reaction, often exacerbated when stress remains unmanaged.

Highlighting the serious consequences of prolonged academic stress, the speaker drew attention to various psychological, behavioural, and physical symptoms such as persistent worry, fear of failure, social withdrawal, fatigue, and recurring headaches. To equip researchers with coping mechanisms, she introduced the “4 A’s” of stress management: Avoid, Alter, Accept, andAdapt, alongside actionable strategies such as effective time management, seeking support systems, reducing academic isolation, and building robust mentorship-based relationships.

The session then transitioned into an interactive segment featuring one-on-one dialogue between the speaker, faculty, and researchers. The Scholars spoke candidly about personal struggles, dealing with the stress and anxiety, including self-doubt regarding the quality of their work, in both academic and personal spheres. The speaker addressed these concerns empathetically, discussing the prevalence of impostor syndrome and stressing the importance of trusting one’s academic journey and avoiding undue self-criticism.

The speaker further advocated for the formation of weekly peer groups, where scholars could engage in collaborative research discussions, review each other’s work, and collectively build academic confidence. She also introduced the “3-3-3” grounding technique, a practical exercise to alleviate anxiety by focusing on three things one can see, touch, and feel, thereby anchoring oneself in the present moment.The session concluded with a reflective discussion on the impact of social media on academic stress.  urged participants to be mindful of their social media usage and emphasised relying on verified and credible sources of information.

A formal vote of thanks was extended to Prof. Jyoti Grewal by Prof Manvinder Kaur, acknowledging her valuable contributions and the empathetic and supportive space she created.