Exams

Every student knows that one of the most stressful times of the year is the exam period. However, self-care is vitally important and can be the difference between success and failure, especially if your anxiety about exams can manifest as physical symptoms like tight muscles, panic attacks and headaches. The best way to deal with this is to take a pro-active approach and take care of your mental health while hitting the books. 

There are many different Apps which can help with mindfulness and relaxation techniques. 

Dealing with exam stress

It is normal to feel a bit worried about exams, especially if you're under pressure from school or family. Exam stress can cause you to feel anxious or depressed, and this might affect your sleeping or eating habits.   

If you recognise any of these feelings, or are worried that exam pressure is taking over your life, you are not alone, and there are things you can do:

• Let your trusted friends and family know if you are struggling, so they can be there to support you, encourage you and offer a listening ear. You don't have to go through this alone. Keeping it all in will only make things worse in the long run, so don't be afraid to open up.  

• Ask for help. Think about all the practical support you need, and be honest with yourself about it. You are allowed to ask for help. Talk through your concerns with your teacher/learning coordinator/careers lead who can let you know what support your school, college or uni can offer you. They will have spoken to lots of students before who are going through similar things, and they are likely to know about helpful resources or services available to you. 

• Try finding a study group, or start your own. Working through problems with other students can be a nice way to keep your social life going and boost your morale. 

• Be kind to yourself. Think about all the things you have achieved so far. It can be helpful to write a list of all the things you like about yourself, and the things other people value about you too.

If people around you - like your parents or family - are putting pressure on you, it can help to tell them what you feel able to achieve, and let them know that your expectations are different to theirs. You could also talk to a member of school staff you trust about the pressure you are under at home.