BEATING TEST ANXIETY Yes, even this slideshow is designed to calm you down

TEST ANXIETY A regular phobia - very common. Has many similarities with stage fright. An individual may feel as if s/he hasn’t studied enough, are not as smart as their peers, or that the test-givers are trying to trick them

SYMPTOMS Increased respiration Increased heart-rate “Blank” mind Sweating Attention Deficit-like symptoms Wandering thoughts

SNOWBALL EFFECT Continuous thoughts of inadequacy will build until an individual brings on a panic attack.

RESULTS OF TEST ANXIETY Wastes time on individual questions Second guessing one’s instincts “Stupid” mistakes A feeling that one knows all the answers once the test is turned in Panic attacks Depression

HOW TO BATTLE TEST ANXIETY Concentrated Breathing Stress overload Muscle contraction/relaxation exercises Visualization Positive thinking/Self-Motivation Physical Preparations Aroma Therapy Music Therapy

BREATHING Increased respiration leads to increased heart rate which, in turn, leads to sweating and increased brain activity. By slowing down your breathing your heart rate will level out and your mind will remain focused

STRESS OVERLOAD Your brain is a complex electrical system. Like other electrical system, to shut it down it is sometimes best to give it a quick burst of stimuli. A huge mental burst of stress that lasts a second or two will keep your mind from processing other stressful stimuli

FOCUSED MUSCLE CONTRACTION/RELAXATION Focusing your attention on individual muscle groups will stimulate your brain and make your thoughts more streamlined It will also relax your body a piece at a time

VISUALIZATION By picturing yourself in a stress-free environment will enable you to focus on relieving your stress You increase your chances of succeeding if you visualize it before attempting it in real life

POSITIVE THINKING/ SELF-MOTIVATION By saying that you can succeed or fail will GREATLY increase the likelihood of that result coming true. Many diseases and disabilities are overcome by mentally overcoming the obstacle.

PHYSICAL PREPARATION Diet, sleep and exercise increase your brain’s capability to process information and to focus on certain tasks. Rest is necessary Protein, cholesterol and fat fuel brain activity Increasing blood flow to the brain through exercise increases brain activity

AROMA THERAPY Certain scents stimulate or relax your brain Orange, Mint, and Peppermint work as both an appetite suppresser AND a mental stimulant Lavender, Chamomile, and Vanilla are natural relaxants

MUSIC THERAPY By hearing familiar popular music concentration decreases on task Unfamiliar popular music increases concentration on music Familiar classical music does the same Unfamiliar classical music can have one of two outcomes

UNFAMILIAR CLASSICAL MUSIC If the tempo is slow and the tone is dark, the music acts as a depressant

UNFAMILIAR CLASSICAL MUSIC If the tempo is upbeat and the tone is light, the music acts as a stimulant