Help! Severe Anxiety

[Isabellah]

I was wondering how everyone copes with severe anxiety when taking exams. I have an extreme case were my mind becomes completely blank. I can quote every thing about a disease process and the nursing diagnosis, interventions, lab test considerations that go with it. Then the when the test is handed to me, I become a brainless idiot.

[Connie1109]

I get some anxiety before an exam, but I would say not to study right before the exam is handed out. So if the exam starts at 8 then stop studying at 7 or 7:30 and sit quietly. Hope this helps

[OhioCCRN, MSN, NP]

I get some anxiety before an exam, but I would say not to study right before the exam is handed out. So if the exam starts at 8 then stop studying at 7 or 7:30 and sit quietly. Hope this helps

That is great advice!!!

You could try to breathe slowly in and out, i swear that sinking feeling disappears!!!!

[Isabellah]

Thanks for the wonderful advice. One of my instructors suggested that I listen to a MP3 player for I will not hear the other nursing students cramming and discussing information before the test.

[ashulee89]

I agree with all previous advice! Everytime I've taken a really big exam, such as the HESI, I listen to mozart before hand. Some people think its weird, but the music will get stuck in your head and relax your mind. I also do the deep breathing and stretch in my seat. Really helps me.

[on eagles wings, ASN, RN]

drink chamomile! it relaxes me. honestly i'm thankful to God I have never had test anxiety(honesty i'm anxious about everything else but tests LOL) but i had a classmate that i was friendly with who had serious test anxiety. i mean it was BAD. she fainted once before a test. yes that bad.

her problem was studying/cramming before the test. avoid chocolate and coffee the day of the test. have a good breakfast. ask someone to massage your hand. be in comfy clothes. listening to mozart is an awesome idea!

[futurepractitioner1]

What a horrible feeling... and then on top of it, there is anxiety about having the anxiety! I had this issue in my first college Chem class...it's a frightening and debilitating feeling. You might be shifting too much performance pressure on yourself as you're wanting to do well, and at the same time...that pressure is killin ya. You've got the rest of your nursing career ahead of you, and I think it's important not to lose sight that each test is only one of a million chances that us future nurses will have to prove what we know and how we are able to communicate out knowledge. Make sure you have some fun in your life and shift some of your focus onto enjoying your experience in school!...this works for me.

[mzrainydayz, BSN, RN]

I had that problem when I started taking my prereqs my mind would go blank, heart start racing, I felt like I was about to pass out. Then one day I told myself to calm down I studied all that I can and I know this stuff, and to basically take it one question at a time. I always tell myself I am going to make a A, don't always happen but I do pass the test. Always think positive and be confident in yourself.

[nrsstudent2010]

Thankfully I don't have anxiety before a test, but I would definitely say to stay out of the classroom before the test! I got to class about 30 mins before a test once and everyone in the classroom is freaking out, it's nuts!

I try to stop studying 20 minutes prior and I think about what I'll do after the exam. No caffeine the day of the test, and a nice breakfast and some music usually does it, and some good breathing techniques.

Whatever you do, stay out of that classroom!

[hopeful_2013]

I have a fellow classmate that has severe anxiety before a test so bad, she'll go into panic attacks. She went to the doctor and got a very mild anti-anxiety Rx and she has been doing very well.

[Nurse SMS, MSN, RN]

I recommend The Feeling Good Handbook. It has a whole section in there on performance anxiety, in particular related to exams. It has helped me a lot.

[halkogirl]

Ativan.