Understanding Test-Taking Anxiety
It’s the moment you’ve been preparing for. You’ve studied for hours; you know the information inside and out. The time has come. The exam is handed to you. Immediately, your mind goes blank, your palms get sweaty, and you start to panic due to the anxiety that starts to creep in. Thoughts of being a failure begin to invade your mind, your stomach starts hurting, and you start to hyperventilate.
If you’ve experienced any of the above symptoms, you are not alone; over 40% of students of all ages struggle with test-taking anxiety. Thankfully, there are effective ways to overcome this.
In our ongoing collaboration with The Aha! Connection, licensed therapist Erin Mills, MSW, LCSW, discusses Understanding Test-Taking Anxiety and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), an effective treatment to aid test-taking anxiety. Erin has first-hand experience as a licensed and trained EMDR therapist. She has utilized this approach to help many who struggle with the challenges of test-taking anxiety.
Erin has prepared many students for the SAT, ACT, and other academic exams. She explains how she has tailored the treatment to her clients and their needs. Subsequently, she has seen how EMDR has worked to treat the debilitating symptoms of testing anxiety and how it has aided in improving their performance. All while significantly reducing the emotional intensity associated with test-taking anxiety.
To learn more about EMDR and its many benefits, click the link below to read Erin’s article: Understanding Test-Taking Anxiety.
