Test Anxiety is Really Common among college students! It is normal to feel some level of anxiety or stress regarding upcoming exams, papers or presentations. Most people can reduce anxiety levels through preparation.
Start work even in small amounts and a feeling of control will come from your activity. Procrastinate and you will only feed your anxiety and worry!
Symptoms of Test Anxiety
- Physical – headaches, nausea or diarrhea, extreme body temperature changes, excessive sweating, shortness or breath, light-headedness or fainting, rapid heart beat, and/or dry mouth.
- Emotional – excessive feelings of fear, disappointment, anger, depression, uncontrollable crying or laughing, feelings of helplessness
- Behavioral – fidgeting, pacing, substance abuse, avoidance
- Cognitive – racing thoughts, 'going blank', difficulty concentrating, negative self-talk, feelings of dread, comparing yourself to others, difficulty organizing your thoughts.
During exams, do you...
- feel like you "go blank"?
- become frustrated?
- find yourself thinking "I can't do this" or "I'm stupid"?
- feel like the room is closing in on you?
- feel your heart racing or find it difficult to breathe?
- suddenly "know" the answers after turning in the test?
- score much lower than on homework or papers?
When performing, do you…
- become distracted?
- feel overwhelmed?
- miss important cues from your surroundings?
- "go blank" and forget what you are supposed to do?
- have distracting thoughts of failure or a poor performance?
- perform more poorly than in practice?
If you answer "yes" to some of these questions, you may be experiencing test or performance anxiety.
The above information thankfully comes from the campusblues.com at the following link.
