· What is it you have to do? Focus on dealing with it.
· Just take one step at a time.
· Think about what you can do about it. That's better than getting anxious.
· No negative or panicky self-statements; just think rationally.
· Don't worry; worrying won't help anything.
Confronting and Handling Test Anxiety
- Don't think about fear; just think about what you have to do.
- Stay relevant.
- Relax; you're in control. Take a slow, deep breath.
- You should expect some anxiety; it's a reminder not to panic and to relax and cope steadily with the situation.
- Tenseness can be an ally, a friend; it's a cue to cope.
Coping with the Feeling of Being Overwhelmed
· When the fear comes, just pause.
· Keep the focus on the present; what is it you have to do?
· You should expect your fear to rise some.
· Don't try to eliminate fear totally; just keep it manageable.
· You can convince yourself to do it. You can reason your fear away.
· It's not the worst thing that can happen.
· Do something that will prevent you from thinking about fear.
· Describe what is around you. That way you won't think about worrying.
Reinforcing Self-Statements
· It worked! You did it!
· It wasn't as bad as you expected.
· You made more out of the fear than it was worth.
· You're getting better. You're learning to cope more smoothly.
· You can be pleased with your progress.
· You like how you handled it. You can be proud of it.
The above information thankfully comes from the ub-counseling.buffalo.edu at the following link.
