Comments on: 3 simple ways to decrease your exam nerves http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/3-simple-ways-to-decrease-your-exam-nerves/ Sun, 29 Jan 2012 09:46:30 +0000 hourly 1 By: Jane http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/3-simple-ways-to-decrease-your-exam-nerves/#comment-1020 Jane Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:04:00 +0000 http://learningfundamentals.com.au/?p=337#comment-1020 Hi Rachel How I can so relate to the things you write about! I'm not sure if I have shared in any of my blog posts how stressed out and anxious I have been in the past (particularly in high school, in the early years of uni and with tutors too!!). It is only (after years of doing courses, reading books, studying psychology, etc) that I feel confident in using various strategies and tools to control my stress levels so I can learn more effectively. I'm not sure medical doctors are the way to go (well I wouldn't recommend them in Australia anyway). The doctors I know would typically administer medication for your anxiety. With the side effects associated with anti-anxiety medication and the fact you're not getting to the root cause of the problem, I wouldn't recommend going down this path. Speaking from my personal experience, I know the number 1 stress management strategy is exercise (without it I am a mess). I also meditated regularly for a time and practiced visualisation and that really helped me too. I am about to start doing a PhD so I am entering very new territory and will be working with a lot of academics who use big words and know a lot of stuff! Very confronting but I know if I exercise, eat well and get plenty of sleep I will be able to do it. I recommend you start experimenting with different techniques (if you haven't already). Try one technique at a time and trial them for 30 days. I work with a lot of students and find that after trying the techniques once they give up. Make sure you give each technique a proper shot. For instance, it can take time to feel the full stress reducing benefits of exercise. Don't expect a result either because that in itself can be stress inducing. It's never too late. Let me know how you go :) Hi Rachel
How I can so relate to the things you write about!
I’m not sure if I have shared in any of my blog posts how stressed out and anxious I have been in the past (particularly in high school, in the early years of uni and with tutors too!!). It is only (after years of doing courses, reading books, studying psychology, etc) that I feel confident in using various strategies and tools to control my stress levels so I can learn more effectively.

I’m not sure medical doctors are the way to go (well I wouldn’t recommend them in Australia anyway). The doctors I know would typically administer medication for your anxiety. With the side effects associated with anti-anxiety medication and the fact you’re not getting to the root cause of the problem, I wouldn’t recommend going down this path.

Speaking from my personal experience, I know the number 1 stress management strategy is exercise (without it I am a mess). I also meditated regularly for a time and practiced visualisation and that really helped me too.

I am about to start doing a PhD so I am entering very new territory and will be working with a lot of academics who use big words and know a lot of stuff! Very confronting but I know if I exercise, eat well and get plenty of sleep I will be able to do it.

I recommend you start experimenting with different techniques (if you haven’t already). Try one technique at a time and trial them for 30 days. I work with a lot of students and find that after trying the techniques once they give up. Make sure you give each technique a proper shot. For instance, it can take time to feel the full stress reducing benefits of exercise.

Don’t expect a result either because that in itself can be stress inducing.

It’s never too late. Let me know how you go :)

]]> By: Rachel http://learningfundamentals.com.au/blog/3-simple-ways-to-decrease-your-exam-nerves/#comment-1018 Rachel Mon, 08 Feb 2010 10:55:30 +0000 http://learningfundamentals.com.au/?p=337#comment-1018 You were right on, when you said, "Stress makes you stupid". I'm 54 yrs. old and all my life I've had trouble trying to learn; wheather it be in school or a job. Sometimes I believe, it's a wonder that I've ever learned anything at all. It's as though a steel wall comes down that keeps me from understanding something. I want so much to do well, but I get so afraid. Every job I've had, I've had difficulties. With the last job I had, I almost had a break down. It sounds terrible, but I was glad when the company closed down in 2008. It felt like a giant weight was taken off of me. Thankfully my husband is working but we are just living from his pay check to pay check. If he was to lose his job we would be in bad shape. I want to contribute. I feel so guilty for him having to carry all the financal load. It's not fair to him. I tried going back to school, but I'd get so stressed that the steel wall would come down. I couldn't learn much at all. I was so overwhelmed in class that I almost ran out of the room. It was all I could do to stay seated. When in school I got a tutor to help me. I was so anxious that it didn't work for me. I'm so flustrated. I want so much to do well. What can I do, or who can I see to help me? I've tried doctors but they couldn't help. You were right on, when you said, “Stress makes you stupid”. I’m 54 yrs. old and all my life I’ve had trouble trying to learn; wheather it be in school or a job. Sometimes I believe, it’s a wonder that I’ve ever learned anything at all. It’s as though a steel wall comes down that keeps me from understanding something.
I want so much to do well, but I get so afraid. Every job I’ve had, I’ve had difficulties.
With the last job I had, I almost had a break down. It sounds terrible, but I was glad when the company closed down in 2008. It felt like a giant weight was taken off of me. Thankfully my husband is working but we are just living from his pay check to pay check. If he was to lose his job we would be in bad shape.
I want to contribute. I feel so guilty for him having to carry all the financal load. It’s not fair to him. I tried going back to school, but I’d get so stressed that the steel wall would come down. I couldn’t learn much at all. I was so overwhelmed in class that I almost ran out of the room. It was all I could do to stay seated.
When in school I got a tutor to help me. I was so anxious that it didn’t work for me.
I’m so flustrated. I want so much to do well. What can I do, or who can I see to help me? I’ve tried doctors but they couldn’t help.

]]>