Test Anxiety Disorder — A Lesser-Known Performance Anxiety
If your child becomes cranky, withdrawn, and irritable before an important exam, it probably implies that he/she is suffering from examophobia or better termed as exam anxiety disorder or test anxiety. Test anxiety is a type of performance anxiety that leads to a combination of emotional reactions and physical symptoms in an individual before and during an important examination.
The condition affects the students appearing for SSC exams just like the ones appearing for medical/IIT entrance exam. This condition has seen a major rise in the recent years as an increasing number of parents have started to thrust their ambitions on their children or judge their children based on the marks they score in their exams.
Some of the common symptoms experienced by students undergoing this form of anxiety are stomachache, nausea, increased heart rate, excessive sweating, severe headaches, inability to concentrate, inability to organize things, excessive concern about exam, shortness of breath, nausea, fear of failure and low self-esteem. They are hardly seen smiling and often appear to be sad, angry, depressed, severely anxious and undergoing panic attacks.
Causes of Test Anxiety Disorder
The causes of test anxiety vary from person-to-person. Some of the common causes that are known to lead to this condition include:
- · High pressure situations, such as passing a test to pass a course
- · Fear of parental disappointment
- · Excessive parental pressure
- · Less preparation for the test
- · Waiting till the last minute to study or not studying at all
- · General fear of failure
- · History of failure or underachievement in tests
- · High level of self-criticism
- · Poor self-care such as lack of exercise or relaxation
- · Lack of enough sleep
- · Unhealthy eating habits
Dealing With Test Anxiety Disorder
To beat these anxiety attacks, it is important to take some simple steps. A few of these are as mentioned below:
- · Taking enough breaks during preparation
- · Drinking lots of water
- · Eating lots of fruits and vegetables
- · Practicing yoga & meditation
- · Staying prepared for the exam well in advance
- · Getting enough sleep
- · Establishing a consistent pretest routine
Apart from these, one can also talk to his/her teacher and get an idea about the important topics for the exam. Necessarily, it is important not to try to mug up everything. Listen to some calming music to keep your senses calm and avoid getting anxious.
Parents should also stay supportive of their child’s ambition and avoid thrusting their decisions upon them. If required, they can also consult a psychiatrist for better health of their child. Want to get connected with one? Contact us today
Recovery Is Possible
Anxiety disorders can affect any individual in various forms such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social phobia (or social anxiety disorder) or any other. But it is important that you do not lose hope and seek help immediately as soon as you experience any symptoms of any form of anxiety disorder. If someone you know or a loved one is showing signs of developing any form of anxiety disorder or any other mental illness, take him/her for a consultation session at Athena Behavioral Health.
Athena Behavioral Health is one of the finest and leading mental health treatment centers in Gurgaon. Holding years of experience in treating individuals for various forms of mental illnesses and addiction to any form of substance, Athena takes pride in its team of professional psychologists who hold expertise in this domain. They make sure that the best customized treatment is provided to each patient to ensure their speedy recovery. So, if anyone around you is addicted to any form of substance or is dealing with any mental health issue, contact Athena Behavioral Health for complete treatment. Interested to know more details about our treatment plans and facility? Contact us today at 9289086193 or drop us an email at info@athenabhs.com
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