Test Stress

[Senin]

In my work I have to pass a recertification test twice a year. The problem is that taking the test, well actually thinking about it leading up to it, causes stress. Does anyone know a way to handle test anxiety?

[eblight]

Yes, creative visualization is very effective for any situation which may call for you to be challenged. There are many books on this subject. Meditation is also very helpful for stress reduction.

[Zukin]

Hi Senin,

These resources are developed for academic test taking, but they may help you as well for your recertification test:

Test Anxiety--UIUC Counseling Center
Dealing with Test Anxiety
Test Anxiety: Counseling Services, University at Buffalo
CampusBlues.com - Test Anxiety
http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/learning/mcanx.html
University of Florida Counseling Center - Division of Student Affairs

Also try adding fish oil supplements to your diet and stop eating refined carbohydrates and sugars. Fish oil supplements can decrease anxiety.

[Mags]

I recently had to make a difficult phone call - I wasn't looking forward to it at all. I must have mentally made that phone call about a hundred times before I actually picked up the phone... I've been learning since then to not give such tasks more mental space than they deserve!

So... for you - apart from time spent preparing for your test (actual learning time, if that's what you have to do prior to the test) and time spent taking the test, try to gently nudge your brain away from the subject and focus on the present. Yes, that can be challenging, especially when you start, but it does become easier over time (and it doesn't necessarily take ages if you are disciplined with it). I've found that it helps me to think "I'm not actually taking the test right now... what am I doing? I'm shopping/washing my hair/reading/watching TV etc..." and to keep doing that, even if I have to do it what feels like every minute! Soon, you find that you're only having to call yourself back to the present every 5 minutes, then every half an hour, then....

The benefit of this is that you actually become more effective when you are finally in the test situation because you aren't mentally tired from all that worrying

[Senin]

Thanks to everybody who replied. I tried alot of things. I even tried EFT, but that didn't really subside the stress. Finally I just went in there and took the test. Everything turned out all right. But I am beginning to think the best solution is to make yourself as tough (resilient) as possible and face things you fear.