Many peopleexperience stressor anxiety before an exam.
The severity of test anxiety can vary considerably from one person to another.
TheYerkes-Dodson lawsuggests that there is a link between arousal levels and performance.
Mehmet Yunus Yesil/E+/Getty Images
Excessive fear can make it difficult to concentrate and you might struggle to recall things that you have studied.
You might feel like all the information you spent some much time reviewing suddenly seems inaccessible in your mind.
You blank out the answers to questions to which you know you know the answers.
Some students experience only mild symptoms of test anxiety and are still able to do fairly well on exams.
Other students are nearly incapacitated by their anxiety, performing dismally on tests or experiencingpanic attacksbefore or during exams.
Cognitive and Behavioral Symptoms
Cognitive and behavioral symptoms can include avoiding situations that involve testing.
This can involve skipping class or even dropping out of school.
In other cases, people might use drugs or alcohol to cope with symptoms of anxiety.
Other cognitive symptoms include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, andnegative self-talk.
Is test anxiety a disorder?
Nervousness and anxiety are perfectly normal reactions to stress.
So what causes test anxiety?
For many students, it can be a combination of things.
Essentially, this response prepares you to either stay and deal with the stress or escape the situation entirely.
In a lot of cases, this adrenaline rush is actually a good thing.
It helps prepare you to deal effectively with stressful situations, ensuring that you are alert and ready.
Student expectations are one major mental factor.
Test anxiety can also become a vicious cycle.
Recap
Three common causes of test anxiety include behavioral, biological, and psychological factors.
Mental factors, such as self-belief and negative thinking, can also lead to test anxiety.
How to Overcome Test Anxiety
So what exactly can you do to prevent or minimize test anxiety?
CBT focuses on helping people change both the behaviors and underlying thoughts that contribute to unwanted behaviors or feelings.
Test anxiety can be unpleasant and stressful, but it is also treatable.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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