slide1 We all feel nervous and anxious before an exam. Normal levels of anxiety can motivate us to work harder and perform better. However when the anxiety becomes excessive and overwhelming it is referred to as exam anxiety and it may end up impairing one’s performance in the exam. Learn about the symptoms of exam anxiety in the slides that follow.
Slide2 Physical symptoms of exam anxiety:The person experiences tightness in muscles, headache, insomnia, nausea, increased heart rate. The mouth goes dry, along with changes in appetite. They start frequently urinating and suffer from upset stomach.
slide3 Cognitive and behavioral symptomsThe person becomes fidgety and has trouble concentrating on things. They try to avoid testing situations, and blank out on the day of exam, unable to recall anything that they have studied. They indulge in negative self-talk.
slide4 Emotional symptomsThe person goes through atypical mood swings. They worry, get frustrated, get discouraged and can also have feelings of depression, panic and hopelessness.
slide5 Social symptomsThe person either completely avoid friends and family, and feel unusually irritated with others. Or they procrastinate through increased socializing.Go to the next slide to find out when you should be concerned
slide6 Exam anxiety is different from typical nervousness. It is more disruptive and overwhelming than normal anxiety. Setting realistic expectations, managing time effectively, using relaxation techniques etc. can help you manage exam anxiety better.However, if the symptoms of exam anxiety persist over a long period of time and cause extreme psychological distress and dysfunction in your everyday functioning, then it is important to talk to a mental health professional and seek help.
We are a not-for-profit organization that relies on donations to deliver knowledge solutions in mental health. We urge you to donate to White Swan Foundation. Your donation, however small, will enable us to further enhance the richness of our portal and serve many more people. Please click here to support us.