a Discerning Life Office (Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy) in Dundee with Paula Hamilton Dip.C.H.t.

What are Exam Stress & Anxiety?

If you are reading this page it may be because you have experienced exam stress in the past or are noticing it for the first time in preparation for upcoming tests or exams. It's a common experience, affecting students of all ages and abilities as exams are designed to test our knowledge and ability to retain and recall information and express it in a concise and informed way – they often stretch our ‘comfort zone’ which is, of course, part of the process learning.

Exam stress is a combination of emotional, physical, and behavioural responses caused by the pressure and anxiety surrounding exams and tests such as the driving test. While some stress can be motivating (Eustress), exam stress becomes problematic when it starts to interfere with your ability to concentrate, study, recall information and perform well in exams.

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Here are some key points about exam stress and anxiety

Signs and symptoms

Emotional: anxiety, worry, fear of failure, low mood, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, frustration, rumination, anticipatory anxiety (the anxiety that develops in anticipation of an event, essentially dreading something that hasn't happened yet)
Physical: headaches, brain fog, stomach aches, muscle tension, fatigue, changes in appetite or sleep, sweating, racing heart
Behavioural: difficulty concentrating, procrastination, avoidance of studying, fidgeting, nail biting, changes in social behaviour

Causes of exam stress and anxiety

Fear of failure: feeling pressure (from others or self) to perform well and the fear of not meeting expectations
Lack of preparation: feeling unprepared or under-studied can lead to increased anxiety
Perfectionism: having unrealistic expectations of yourself and striving for flawlessness can be overwhelming
External pressures: pressure from parents, teachers or peers to succeed can contribute to stress, comparing self to others is also often unhelpful
Personal factors: individual differences in personality and coping mechanisms can influence how susceptible someone is to stress

Impact of exam stress and anxiety

Reduced academic performance: stress and anxiety can make it difficult to focus during study, to retain and recall information and to think clearly during exams
Physical and mental health problems: chronic stress can lead to headaches, sleep problems, anxiety disorders and depression
Decreased motivation and enjoyment of learning: stress can make studying feel overwhelming and take away the pleasure of learning

If you are experiencing exam stress and anxiety, in sessions I will guide you through the process of how to resolve them so you can move from coping to thriving, and be equipped to prepare and take exams to get the results you want and deserve.

Sessions are available in person and online.

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Client Success Stories

'Dear Paula, I have passed 2 fitness tests, 1 being the beep test. Thank you so much, without your help I don't think I would've had the confidence to pass them. Everything you said put things in my life in perspective and I'll never forget what you've done for me. Thank you so much again.’ Francesca (Angus)

‘Paula asked me the right questions, provided feedback, support and gave encouragement. She made me realise that I have the capacity within me to get rid of my fears around exams and break the barriers of boundaries that keeps me in my comfort zone. Working with her was the best thing that happened to me, to propel me into action for changes that I really want to happen in my life.’ Riezel

'I just wanted to reach out and give you a huge thank you. You were working with my son just before lockdown and I just wanted to give you an update. It’s no exaggeration to say you changed his life. Before working with you he could hardly leave the house, couldn’t go to school and couldn’t eat outside the house. He’s now in his second year of a Law Degree having got As in all his school exams, he ended up with 9 Highers all at A grade. It’s so nice to see him enjoy life! Thank you so much, you genuinely changed his life.' P.A. (Dundee)

‘My 16 year old daughter has been working with Paula focussing on coping strategies for anxiety. She has successfully navigated prelims using the strategies Paula offered and is feeling more confident about being able to cope with her forthcoming Higher exams. Paula is lovely to chat to, very warm and reassuring and clearly very knowledgeable about how anxiety ‘works’. Immediately after one of our early sessions, whilst walking to the car, my daughter said ‘she is very good at her job!’ high praise from a 16 year old’ Elaine (Dundee)

contact paula today

What are Exam Stress & Anxiety?

Client Success Stories

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