Late teen Zara Qairina managed stress with diary, barcode marks, psychologist testifies

A child psychologist testified that the late Zara Qairina Mahathir possessed unique methods for managing her emotional stress, suggesting that stress does not automatically escalate into anxiety disorders. Dr. Noor Aishah Rosli stated that the 13-year-old channeled her stress by writing in a diary and making barcode-like marks, which she described as coping mechanisms.

"Stress becomes negative when an individual has no solution to overcome it," Dr. Noor Aishah explained during the 80th day of the inquest into the student's death at the Coroner's Court. "Because there is no solution, anxiety will occur. If someone has a way to overcome stress, then that stress is positive and cannot be categorized as anxiety."

The 76th prosecution witness told the court that peer relationships contributed to Zara Qairina's stress. The way friends treated each other could be a source of pressure, prompting the victim to use the barcode marks as a way to cope. The expert agreed that Zara's stress could be considered positive because she had mechanisms to manage it, including journaling.

Dr. Noor Aishah also advised that individuals who suppress their feelings without resolving problems risk their stress developing into anxiety and depression. "The best approach is to solve the problem. Suppressing feelings can develop into anxiety and depression," she said. She disagreed with a previous assertion by a forensic psychiatrist that masking behavior, over-adaptation, and suppressing feelings are common among stressed teenagers, noting that such masking is more likely in high-functioning individuals with autism.