Dealing with Exam Nerves

Every time the exams arrive, the Sun stops setting for students. Heads are permanently hooked into books and a feeling of no life beyond books seems to plague every student. Each second becomes precious and there seems to be no time to eat, sleep, bathe…… Does some of this sound familiar to you too?

As exams approach, you may be letting the pressure of the exams get to you. This is not surprising and, in fact, it can be quite normal to feel some anxiety before exams and feel those butterflies in your stomach as the exams approach. In fact, findings suggest that for some students a little bit of pressure spurs them on and enables them to get down and do some serious work! It must be pointed out however, that too much stress can be detrimental to health and can set alarm bells ringing.

But now the question arises – How much stress is too much? It all depends on the individual endurance levels. Some students buckle down at the slightest sign of an obstacle or frustration whereas others seem to thrive on the challenges of a fast changing environment. The extent of the negative effects of stress is also a function of an individual’s coping skills.

It is therefore very important for students (and their parents) to keep a watch for the harmful signs of stress. Excessive anxiety often slows down the learning process and a  prolonged exposure to persistent stress can lead to serious health ailments  like digestive problems, sleep problems, depression, obesity, skin conditions such as eczema, pain of any kind, heart diseases etc.

Here are a few tips on dealing with exam related stress: