Test anxiety

Introduction

A fear that cannot be overcome and that is triggered by examination situations or circumstances that are perceived as an examination is called examination anxiety. It can be caused by previous bad experiences (e.g. if you have already fallen through an exam), fears from other people’s stories (e.g. if you hear that it is impossible to pass the exam) or low self-esteem (the feeling of not being able to do anything).

Exam anxiety can manifest itself in many ways. Basically it comes to a mental tension and physical discomfort. The mental state is characterized by the feeling of fear and insecurity.

Occurrence can: Physical complaints can be: The ability to pay attention and concentrate is diminished and thinking blocks, self-doubt and the ability to remember are reduced. In the exam situation or shortly before, the inner tension becomes so great that a panic attack can occur. The symptoms are those of a typical anxiety reaction: this state is generally referred to as “black out”, or a state of complete brain shutdown.

However, it is worth mentioning that not all people experience test anxiety in the same way. No two people experience the exact same symptoms and the course of the symptoms over time can also be different. For some people, the anxiety rises continuously until the actual exam, while others may even be relaxed at times.

Sometimes the panic-like episodes occur only after the end of the exam, when one has actually already passed it. Nevertheless, they are frightening and stressful.

  • Irritability,
  • Feelings of listlessness,
  • Mood swings,
  • Despondency,
  • Depressions,
  • Anger.
  • Inner restlessness,
  • Sleep disorders,
  • Headache,
  • Mattiness,
  • Loss of appetite or attacks of ravenous appetite.
  • Tachycardia,
  • Lump feeling in the throat,
  • Sweat outbreaks,
  • Blush,
  • Shakiness of the hands.