College Counsellor
EMPOWERMENT | WELLBEING | AFFIRMATION
College Counsellor
EMPOWERMENT | WELLBEING | AFFIRMATION
Summary
Some things pair well: bacon and eggs, movies and popcorn, winter and fireplaces. Two things that always seem to join forces are exams and anxiety. Are they destined to always go hand-in-hand, or can we have a test without being stressed?
Well, it depends. It is perfectly normal and actually helpful to experience situational anxiety prior to an exam. It can increase our motivation to prepare before a test and be ready for it. And when we walk into that exam room, the action of our adrenal glands and sympathetic nervous system can see us benefit from an increase in alertness and presence in the moment. [1]
However, being human, sometimes we let our thoughts get away with us in what is known as cognitive distortions. These are irrational thoughts that tend to be negative and lack evidence. Leading up to a test, students may hold cognitive distortions such as:
Where’s the evidence?
Once students identify cognitive distortions that are harmful, they can challenge them by examining the evidence and counteracting them with positive self-talk. Instead of the negative cognitive distortions above, below are some examples of positive self-talk:
Take Action:
Sources: