They enroll in coaching institutes, follow strict timetables, and dedicate years of their lives to preparation. On the surface, it looks like a journey of discipline and ambition. But behind closed doors, many aspirants struggle with anxiety, emotional burnout, and declining mental health.

This article is based on therapy experiences with competitive exam aspirants. It is not about one individual, but a reflection of what many students silently go through.

Life as a Competitive Exam Aspirant

She came to Delhi in her early twenties to prepare for UPSC. Like most aspirants, her day revolved around coaching classes, self-study, revision, and test series. Her routine was packed, yet her mind never felt at rest.

Despite studying for long hours, she constantly felt anxious. Her sleep was disturbed. She cried frequently without knowing why. Small sounds startled her. She felt lonely even when surrounded by people in coaching centers and libraries.

Many UPSC aspirants experience this phase but assume it is “normal exam pressure.” Over time, this untreated stress begins to affect concentration, memory, confidence, and motivation.

The Hidden Pressure of Coaching and Comparison

UPSC coaching environments can be intense. Daily discussions about ranks, mock test scores, and “how many hours you studied” silently fuel self-doubt. For aspirants already struggling emotionally, this atmosphere can become overwhelming.

She often felt that no matter how much she studied, it was never enough. When she compared herself to other aspirants, her anxiety increased. On bad days, she questioned her intelligence and worth.

Many students search online for:

• “Why do I feel anxious during UPSC preparation?”
• “UPSC burnout symptoms”
• “Unable to focus while studying for competitive exams”

These are not signs of weakness. They are signs of emotional overload.

When Past Experiences Affect Present Preparation

In therapy, it became clear that her exam anxiety was not only about UPSC.

She had grown up in an emotionally unsafe environment where her feelings were often dismissed. When she tried to speak up during difficult moments earlier in life, she was not supported. Over time, she learned to silence herself and doubt her emotions.

Competitive exam preparation acted as a trigger. The pressure, isolation, and fear of failure brought unresolved emotional pain to the surface. What looked like “lack of discipline” was actually a nervous system stuck in survival mode.

This is common among aspirants who come from emotionally critical or unsupportive family backgrounds.

Relationships and Emotional Dependency During Preparation

Many UPSC aspirants rely heavily on relationships for emotional stability during preparation. When relationships feel unstable or distant, anxiety spikes.

She noticed that conflicts with her partner or family immediately affected her studies. On emotionally difficult days, she experienced panic-like symptoms breathlessness, racing heart, shaking, and mental blankness.

This led her to Google terms like:

• “panic attacks during exam preparation”
• “relationship stress affecting UPSC studies”

Without emotional regulation skills, even small triggers felt unmanageable.

How Therapy Helps Competitive Exam Aspirants

Therapy for UPSC aspirants does not mean giving up on ambition. It means learning how to prepare without destroying mental health.

In sessions, the focus was on:

• Managing exam anxiety and coaching pressure
• Separating academic stress from emotional stress
• Improving sleep and eating patterns
• Learning emotion regulation during high-pressure phases
• Rebuilding self-confidence without constant comparison

Slowly, she began to feel calmer. Her sleep improved. Her ability to focus increased. She still had difficult days, but she no longer felt controlled by anxiety.

The syllabus remained the same but her relationship with herself changed.

A Message to UPSC and Competitive Exam Aspirants

If you are preparing for UPSC or any competitive exam and feel:

• Constant anxiety despite studying
• Emotional exhaustion or burnout
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fear of failure or self-doubt

You are not alone.

Many aspirants struggle silently because mental health is rarely discussed in coaching spaces. Seeking counselling or therapy is not a distraction from preparation  it often makes preparation sustainable.

Competitive exams test knowledge, but they also test emotional resilience. Supporting your mental health can be the difference between burnout and balanced preparation.

At The Mind Veda, we work closely with UPSC and competitive exam aspirants to help them manage stress, anxiety, burnout, and emotional overwhelm during preparation.