Tips for Test Anxiety

Experiencing test anxiety? You’re not alone! Before delving into some tips, let us define test anxiety: “Test anxiety is a feeling of agitation and distress associated with test taking, which impacts your ability to study or perform on the test. Some anxiety is natural and helps to keep you mentally and physically alert, but too much may cause physical distress, emotional upset, and concentration difficulties” (UC Davis). With the right strategies, you can greatly reduce your anxiety going into an exam.

Dr. Lena Pearlman, LCSW, offers some effective tips below:

• Practice deep breathing
• Meditate
• Positive affirmations – internal dialogue is important.
• Speak with a therapist
• Build test taking skills to increase confidence
• Don’t over or under study
• On the day before the test, do things that bring you joy
• Make sure you get enough sleep and rest
• Maintain a balanced lifestyle – balancing personal activities with studying
• Exercise – exercising is beneficial for your physical and mental health
• Nutrition is vital!

Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates is a St Louis mental health therapy practice in Creve Coeur, Missouri. The practice has a team of mental health therapists who provide therapy and counseling services to kids, teens, adults, couples, and families. Dr. Lena Pearlman & Associates specializes in stress, anxiety, depression, relationships, and other mental health related issues and concerns. The practice can be reached by phone at: 314-942-1147, by email at: bryan@stlmentalhealth.com or on the web at: www.STLmentalhealth.com. The office is located at: 655 Craig Road, Suite 300, St. Louis, MO 63141.