Overcoming exam fear

BALASUBRAMANYA B N (CCI STUDENT....) (44668 Points)

05 September 2009

Our brain can remember everything and interpret them well, more than a computer. Its working nature seems to be a mystery, i.e., it is tough to forget the thing one wishes to forget, and it is difficult to remember the thing one wishes to remember. Alarms and schedulers can ease one in this condition. Anyhow, for all learners, the brain’s cooperation is very much essential. When one gets tensed or is fearful, one can often go blank as if the condition / situation / circumstance had formatted their brain.

“Knowledge is power”. To attain that, children are now pressurised to journey with studies and schooling for gaining it. Parents just ride roughshod on their children to reach their aims or goals. Many times many parents make their children tense and nervous about exams. Of course, fear (within limits) is good, since it may draw more attention and care. But they should understand that for good, efficient learning and perfection in presentation, good parenting with encouragement, good teachers, good institution, (of course, good student), etc., are very essential.

March will be a dreaded season or a tension period for children (more for parents too) due to exam fear. Parents will sacrifice TV, outings, tours, sleep, etc., for the sake of their children’s studies. In spite of it all, if they find that their children could not cope with the situation and lose their concentration, they will often become frustrated, irritated and worried. Also, parents would often complain that their children are studying well but not scoring well. At this juncture, they need to encourage their children than blaming them and should go for analysis of the cause to rectify / treat it.

One’s incompetence and ignorance usually debar them from their activities unless good luck plays a major role. So, taking this issue for business, nowadays lots and lots of products, including health drinks, come into the market, claiming that they can make the brain work to develop IQ (intelligence quotient). Actually speaking, it is difficult to prove the gain of IQ, since it needs not only brain boosters but also one’s interest in learning, ability, tendency to concentrate, good teaching, favourable circumstances, etc. Here brain needs more exercises than just a brain booster - Learning and recalling – just like contraction and relaxation of muscles as we do for our physique. Squeezing the brain during childhood is good for one’s life in future. Here one needs to remember the old proverb

I hear – I forget
I see – I remember
I do – I understand and will never forget

Exams and assessment – Exams are not always easy going. Exams are conducted to honour our intellect. Here one can aim for topper / achiever / champion to be proud of oneself or to make their parents proud. Good learning, keeping everything in mind, recalling the things when there arises a need, perfection in doing things and seriousness in presentation will lead one always to the top. Perhaps, built in behaviour or habit development will always be needed to perform it. One should understand well that success is not easy to be got. You need to strain. The more we learn, the better we can perform without any fear or tension. Unwanted tension can precipitate exam fear.

Causes – are usually numerous, but the common causes are:

Lack of memory or forgetfulness
Fear of punishments from parents / teachers
Bad past experiences
Improper learning i.e. studying not in depth
Inattentive / distracted mind
Lack of self-confidence / hopelessness / inferiority complex
Health problems

>Symptoms – Some would just fear in succeeding / scoring high marks, some other would fear and sweat, and some others would sink and faint in addition. Some others get tremors, nervousness, sometimes they find it difficult to control passing of urine and stool.

Likewise, exam fear can cause a variety of symptoms. The common symptoms are:

Feeling blank or vagueness before exam
Difficulty in concentrating and studying while preparing for exams
Fear to appear for exams
Getting tensed on seeing difficult questions
Difficulty in expressing / presentation even for known answers due to fear or inferiority complex
Confusion and hopelessness
Sweating and racing heart
Dizziness due to sleepless study
Tension and worries

Prevention and management – Learning, keeping it in memory, recalling when needed, presentation, etc. everything needs skill and habit development.

For students - Hygiene should not be excluded while caring for the brain. Health consciousness should be more during the exam period or otherwise every effort taken in studying will go in vain. Take plenty of vegetables, dairy products, cereals, pulses, nuts, etc. Also, be aware that it is not worth just supplementing without any exercises, i.e., only an active body keeps an energetic brain. Also never overload your stomach, since it may induce sleep.

Do’s

Learn everything with good concentration and understanding
Keep everything in memory in inter-relationship
Revise in the mornings (early morning is the best time, since brain will be more active after a good sleep)
Prepare for exams right from the beginning and well in advance
Have confidence that you have learnt everything, you will remember everything, you will present everything and finally you will achieve your goal
Understand the question in depth, answer aptly in a cool manner, without any tension

Avoid

Studying continuously (day and night) – relax often to re-charge your brain
Stimulants - coffee / tea. Better take health drinks to keep good energy levels
Cool drinks / things to avoid unnecessary cold and fever during exam period
Stress and worries
Fear of exams / getting blank / forgetfulness
Underestimating yourself
Studying only as exams near
Discussing new things or unknown things before entering the exam hall
Watching others in the examination hall
Getting tensed by the speed of others in writing and collecting additional sheets
Feeling of running out of time - relax, set mind to proceed in good speed and spirit till the end of time
Getting blank on seeing tough questions - on those occasions, just skip that question and go with the next known and simple one. In the mean time, your brain will become energetic enough to answer any sort of questions in an easy manner.

If you follow all these good Luck will be always yours.

For parents - Parents should be aware that studies and creative abilities should always be motivated and should not be forced. Considering the qualities of their children with respect to attention, concentration, confidence, tension, bored mentality, recollecting ability, time management, speed of presentation, self esteem, negative attitude, etc., parents should go for habit formation and if necessary, treatment also. They should educate their children in the way of enhancing self-motivation and providing responsibility.

Do’s

Teach your children to be relaxed but not lethargic
Teach them in-depth – never allow them to just mug up.
Encourage them often – make them revise
Prepare them to confront any exam without any pressure and tension
Make them present a paper at least once before exam

Avoid

Bad parenting – Be kind to them
Repeated reminders for / about studying
Interfering while studying
Aiming high and forcing the children to achieve the unachievable (go according to the capacity of your child)

Complications – Extreme exam fear often leads to failure - This may further cause lack of interest and loss of self-esteem. Criticism and bad parenting are the main causes for exam fear which further causes depression, anxiety, tension, etc. Sometimes it even pushes one to commit suicide. Fearful/dejected students commit suicide because they were unable to perform well in a test/exam or difficulty in facing their parents after that. This idiotic approach should be rooted out by explaining the real facts. Students should be educated in such a way that they learn for themselves and not for others (teachers or parents). Teachers and parents take efforts for his / her welfare. It is not just a question of managing the exam. They should accept that it is time to learn for a bright future. Also, these exams may help lead a comfortable life, but not for life itself. One should understand that this is one occasion where we can show our ability. If at all we fail, we can create another opportunity to succeed. Only thing is we need to wait for the next occasion, wasting some time. It is just like catching the next train than canceling the trip for missing the first train. Here one should be trained to have / develop faith and confidence to reach the goal / destination, defeating all stress and fears.

General treatment – Mostly no one goes for treatment, blaming each other (parents, teachers and students). If they happen to come, they will be psychologically analysed for the capacity and ability of the mind. Then, they will be properly counselled to be cleared of all fears and tension with advice for good, nutritious diet and health drinks. Finally, if any medications are needed, they will be provided the required medicines, clearly stating that medicine can only suppress their tension and fear, perhaps they also need to develop proper learning and revise often to write in a good manner the final exams.

Homeopathic approach – People usually seek alternative treatments to get good memory. Often they go for rare herbs. They may not know about the efficacy of Homeopathy in these matters. In fact, Homeopathy can offer a sweet proposal for them.

Fear comes only when there is any commitment. One can realise this by watching innocent kindergarten children. Even though they might not have enough competitive spirit, they can learn well and recollect well with interest. They will not have any sort of fear or tension. Sharp kids grasp things very quickly and can present them well. To get that sharpness, one should develop interest in learning without any tension and fear.

With out proper learning and habit formation, no one can help. Homeopathy can support students for building confidence, attention, concentration, active brain, etc., by supporting the nerves and the brain. Homeopathy can help in storing and sharing or interpreting things/files in memory. As a classic individualised treatment, it works fine, when medicines are selected precisely, according to the cause and nature of the patient. Homeopathy can act as an adjuvant and can offer better stability of mind with emotional support. It can enrich knack of study, rooting out a vacillating mind.

Homeopathic medicines commonly used in cases of exam fears are Aconite, Ambra grisea, Anacardium, Arg nit, Ars alb, Bryonia, Calc phos, Cannabis ind, Ferrum phos, Gelsemium, Kali phos, Lachesis, Manganum, Natrum mur, Nux vom, Phosphorus, Pulsatilla, Rhus tox, Zinc met, etc. Nowadays, homeopathically prepared flower medicines are also used more specifically for these sorts of complaints.

For

Phobias (persistent abnormal dread or fear / aversion) – Aspen, Arg Nit, Ars alb, Gels, Mimulus, Nux vom, etc.
Forgetfulness – Ambra grisea, Anacardium, Baryta carb, Cannabis Ind, Iodium, Kali brom, Sulphur, Nux moschata, etc.
Confusion – Ambra grisea, Anacardium, Baryta carb, Calc carb, Iodium, Gels, Lachesis, Picric acid, Zinc met, etc.
Attention deficit, inattentiveness, very slow in learning and for repeating same mistakes – Baryta carb, Calc carb, Chestnut bud, Clematis, etc.
Dullness and depression – Baryta carb, Calc carb, Gentian, Horn beam, etc
Hopelessness and lack of self-confidence – Ambra grisea, Lachesis, Larch, Nat mur, Gorse, etc.
Feeling tired even before starting to study, exhausted mind – Horn beam
Homesickness – Acid phos, Capsicum, Ignatia, Gels, Nux vom, Puls, etc.
Indecisive, uncertain, unsteady double mind – Scleranthus, Wild oat, etc., are prescribed. These medicines should be taken under the advice and diagnosis of a Qualified Homoeopath.