Hi there,
It’s natural to feel anxious about your exams. People want to do well and there can be a lot to learn, all of which can make it feel overwhelming. If your feelings are starting to get too much or it’s making it hard to work, then it’s good to get some help.
A small amount of stress can be really helpful, it can make us feel motivated and keep us going. When we start getting overly stressed or anxious though, it can do the opposite. It can make it harder to think, focus, or do anything but concentrate on the anxiety. When things are starting to get too much, it’s really important to focus on those feelings and ways to feel calmer.
There are lots of ways to cope or manage your feelings. In the moment, it can help to focus on your breathing and staying in the here and now. Our Calm Zone have loads of tools to help. It can take time to find the right thing for you, and that’s okay. You could start by trying one of the calming videos or with a way of expressing yourself.
It’s also important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself. Focusing on getting enough sleep, staying active, and eating healthily all help your mental health. It can feel like a lot of effort right now, but they will make it easier to work and focus when you need to.
Comparing yourself to other people isn’t always helpful. If talking to other people about the number of topics they’re doing is making you feel more anxious, it may be better to focus on talking about other things. Remember, just because someone says they’ve done five topics, it doesn’t mean they have and it doesn’t mean they’ve done them well.
It sounds like your mum wants you to do well, but that she can sometimes make you feel even more anxious. You can’t control what mum says, but it can help to think about how you respond. If you feel safe to, you could think about telling her how you’re feeling, it could also help to talk about how breaks help you or even about how you feel when you revise. Talking about how you’re feeling with someone you trust can be an important way to get those feelings out.
No matter what’s happening, we’re here to support you. We’ve got loads of advice about exam stress and we’re here to support you any time things are getting too much.
Take care,
Sam
