Tuesday, May 14, 2013

How to Cure Test Anxiety - 3 Habits You Must Break to Cure Exam Panic!

By Anastasie Paquet


What Is Test Anxiety?Test anxiety is the experience of feeling anxious, distracted, upset and overwhelmed in anticipation of an exam and the results that might occur. Just like most other types of anxiety, test anxiety stems from a panic type feeling that usually centers on the future and results from how you've chosen to think and focus over time.

What Are Bad Anxiety Habits?Most people only think of bad habits as having to do only with small actions that we either do or don't do. Not brushing our teeth daily etc... Mental habits however are the thoughts that we continue to focus on over time. Just like a physical muscle, our brain is also plastic and malleable. Our habitual neuron signals are like sleds that follow the exact same snow tracks over and over. Pretty soon those sleds cling naturally to the same pathway, coasting fast with difficulty taking changing route.

Poor study methods also contribute to test problems. When a student is primarily an auditory learner, who learns by listening, and has spent all his time studying like a visual learner, by just reading books, he has good reason to be nervous! Learning to study according to the style of learner you are is critical to having confidence going into the ACT test.

So if you want to overcome test anxiety that might cause you to bomb on the ACT test, keep in mind these three causes of bombing on tests and learn more by taking a good ACT test prep course that will teach you how to score your best on the ACT.

By the way, you can watch free 60 second ACT Test Tip Videos without having to give your name or email address by going here: ACT Test Tips.Studying for the ACT anywhere, online with short video clips makes the ACT a breeze.Perhaps you are approaching your senior year in high school, narrowing down your choice of schools, filling out applications and signing up for the SAT test. Most likely you are planning to take it more than once. Did your stomach just do a flip-flop thinking about the test? Are you worried about it because so much rides on how well you do?

Preparation Makes Test Anxiety Go Away.Coming to class every day is not enough for you to learn and perform well in tests. Beyond attending your class is the preparation perfected through developing suitable study habits. Cramming is never a good idea and always has negative as well as disappointing results. Regular study reduces test anxiety. As you study daily, you will have a better grasp of your lessons, making you more confident when the test comes.

In layman's terms, here is what happens when we are in a state of fear. The fear causes the amygdala in your brain to send out the message that it is fight or flight time! Cortisol, a stress hormone, gets released in your body, digestion is disrupted, and your heart rate increases to deliver more blood to the muscles in preparation for fight or flight. Finally, and most importantly, the functioning of the prefrontal cortex is disrupted. The prefrontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for, among other things, decision-making and problem-solving. It is vital to test taking yet superfluous during flight or flight. Your subconscious mind which is in charge of this intricate system of survival does not know whether it is an actual or perceived threat. It just knows you fear and it responds accordingly. Overcoming anxiety is an important factor for doing well on the test.

Recognizing Your Need of Assistance.You need people in your life. Whether you need them for companionship, advices or for other things, you need to acknowledge that without them, life will be hard. In your struggles,there are people around you whom you can seek help from. Family members, teachers, counselors and friends are among the people around you that can contribute in solving your problem.

These experiences also cause us to have limiting beliefs such as: "I'm not a good test taker" or "I just know I'm not going to do well". Chances are theses beliefs are residing in your subconscious mind and no amount of positive affirmations or talking yourself out of them is going to help. Unlike our conscious mind, the subconscious mind cannot be talked "to".

Can the subconscious mind be reached? Fortunately in the last 20 years there are new stress reduction techniques that can be highly effective with many issues including test anxiety. They are easily learned, have the ability to access the subconscious mind, and have been scientifically proven to be effective. Once learned the individual has a stress reduction tool he or she can use to self manage stress wherever it may appear in life.

Love Yourself.You have to value what's in you by taking care of yourself. Take proper care of yourself by getting sufficient sleep, regular exercise as well as maintaining a healthy diet. This will greatly help in keeping your mind active and working as best as possible. All the tests you will take are easier if you are in good condition physically, mentally and emotionally. Love yourself by saying goodbye to test anxiety.Time is needed to effectively and successfully overcome test anxiety. Winning over it doesn't happen overnight. You must be patient and focused on your goal as you take this long yet encouraging journey of conquering test anxiety.




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