Self Inflicted Anxiety

[Lucycat]

My anxiety is high at the moment.

I am pleased to have done so well, so far with my psychology course. My continuous assignments have all received good marks. I am hopeful about the final assignment that has been sent to an external marker, which I will get back in November.

But... and for me this is a very big BUT, I have an exam for it in a week's time. I am so worried about it and am finding the idea of revision very difficult. I had made myself a revision plan and have already missed most of it so far. I just look at the books and my mind goes blank. It feels so much like this will simply be a memory test and my memory does not function under stress.

Rory's attitude is - 'well you chose to do this course so it is of your own making'.

I really want to do this and pass it, so that in February I can start the next module and carry on. I don't think there are other formal exams in the rest of the modules, this one is a bit of an exception. The last thing in the world that I want to do is stick my hand up and say 'I have PTSD so my memory is shot' - making excuses.

 

[rainbow1]

Scrap the revision plan. You can spend hours and days revising a revision plan, re-writing it and never sticking to it. Revise when your feeling at your best and can take things in. Short bursts are best.

Yes exams are a lot about memory BUT they are also about understanding and being able to present a rational argument backed up by references. Is your exam essay based or problem and answer based?

If it is essay based then write out some essay plans of possible topics. This is useful for short answer questions as well.
List all the points you would ideally include in your essay with a few main references.
Make sure that you are actually answering the question that has been asked and stay on topic.
Take your time at the start of the exam to make sure you've read what they are asking you to do properly. Write out a quick plan this will help you stay focused.

Make it into a sort of game to remember the references. The name and date of the author of the study is all you need. I used to write the authors initial and study date out in a list of letters and make a rhyme up about them.

Not sure if any of that is helpful or not but you will be fine. I have every confidence in you.

 

[Lucycat]

Scrap the revision plan. You can spend hours and days revising a revision plan, re-writing it and never sticking to it. Revise when your feeling at your best and can take things in. Short bursts are best.

I am a list-maker every day. So I do need a plan, but I know have a more realistic shorter one. It does follow your advice to revise in short bursts. This morning I did what I had agreed with myself and then went off and did some chutney making in the kitchen!

Yes exams are a lot about memory BUT they are also about understanding and being able to present a rational argument backed up by references. Is your exam essay based or problem and answer based?

It is problem based. Short answers and no referencing. However there are some diagrams that might come up. I have rehearsed drawing them so I think that is OK.

Make sure that you are actually answering the question that has been asked and stay on topic.
Take your time at the start of the exam to make sure you've read what they are asking you to do properly.

Last night I did the practice questions on the website. Several times I slipped up through not reading the question properly so know this is something I really need to be careful with.

Not sure if any of that is helpful or not but you will be fine. I have every confidence in you.

Thank you. It was very helpful I have a little more confidence in myself today than I did yesterday. I have studied the Open University's pages on stress, revision and exams and they were very helpful too. They also include advice on not setting your sights too high and putting yourself under extra pressure that is not necessary.

 

[rainbow1]

Glad your feeling better about it today. Remember you only need to pass not get full marks and if you don't pass you can always re-sit it. I wish you the best of luck though, i'm sure you will do great. I'm a bit sad in that I actually love exams!!

 

[bluebell2]

Hi Lucy I don't have any words of wisdom on studying but I know you will do you best & you will pass.
You have worked hard on this course. Good Luck :) x

 

[Lucycat]

I'm a bit sad in that I actually love exams!!

Truly sad LOL!:eek:

 

[Lucycat]

I have struggled through the week. Done some revision - even got to a point where, for a while, I felt confident. But it has all gone. I am struggling. I keep realising that I am holding my breath- definitely a stress reaction for me.

Today I am fearful that when I walk into the exam room my mind will go blank. I have memories of being in the Psychiatrist's room and him asking me what I was thinking. My reply was 'thinking? I can't think!'

 

[Lucycat]

I didn't go blank when I entered the exam room. Instead as soon as I sat at the desk with the exam paper in front of me I felt much calmer. There was only one question that completely floored me and I could not attempt to answer it, but it was only worth a few marks so I did not dwell on it. I continued and did the rest then went back and re-read that one, wrote some nonsense that I did not believe and then finished.

The revision that I had done certainly helped. I think next time I will start revising earlier though to prevent it from being a whirlwind at the end. That also would have allowed me to schedule time out within my revision plan.

So, I did not die from the anxiety after all:applause:

 

[cherryblossom]

Nice one Lucy - well done :thumbsup: