Exam/Test Anxiety
Intense stress or fear before or during exams that affects concentration, memory, and academic performance.
Overview
Exam Anxiety is a type of performance anxiety that affects students before or during tests. It leads to excessive worry, fear of failure, and physical symptoms that interfere with performance. Even well-prepared students may experience difficulty recalling information or show poor test results due to overwhelming stress. Exam anxiety can lower academic confidence and motivation, but therapy can help students develop effective study habits and emotional coping skills.
Symptoms
Causes
Flashbacks or intrusive memories
Nightmares or disturbed sleep
Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle response
Irritability or emotional numbness
Avoiding reminders of trauma
Feeling disconnected or detached
Difficulty focusing
Accidents or injuries
Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse
Natural disasters
Medical trauma
Childhood neglect or instability
Witnessing violence
How Therapy Can Help
Trauma-Focused CBT
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
Somatic Experiencing
Mindfulness and grounding practices
Supportive therapy and safety-building
