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Getting mental blocks leading up to exams

(27 posts) (8 voices)

Started 4 months ago by playthoseblues
Latest reply from wannabefree
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playthoseblues
Member

Hello,

I've got exams next week, and I've revised so much but at the same time I've been getting very stressed out. I spoke to one of my subject teachers and she said that I was likely to burn out if I keep going at the rate I was. She told me not to revise hardly at all over the weekend, so I only did a bit yesterday, and she said to do none Sunday. However this stresses me out, (OCD plays a factor) and now I keep unconsicously trying to recollect the stuff I have revised. But I keep getting mental blocks, and just forgetting stuff I knew. And then this stresses me out even more.

I'm worried that I'll go into the exam and get a poor result because I'll forget everything.

What should I do! Please help!

Sun Jan 8 2012 9:09:45 #
slogsweep
Member

I overrevised for my GCSE's, I got 5 less than I should have. I took it easier for my a-levels, got 2 A's and a C.

Please take your teacher's advice. Chill out today, relax. You've done all you can. Take the 'if I don't know it now, I won't so tough' approach. Exams don't end lives. Best of luck to you and let us know how they go.

Slog

Sun Jan 8 2012 9:19:41 #
Twitchy
Member

I agree with Slog u can revise too much,u need a day to relax and rest your brain,make sure u get plenty of fresh air today and rest tonight.An extra day revising today will just stress u out.Also don't listen to any of your friends before or after the exam,that'll just panic you.

Sun Jan 8 2012 10:22:05 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies,

I've emailed my teacher to see what she thinks, I might go and just try and relax but I don't know if it will work..

Jon

Sun Jan 8 2012 10:53:18 #
Tess
Member

Hi Jon
I think maybe we're all different when it comes to learning facts and retaining information. When I used to revise for exams I always used to cram like mad just before the exam, spew it all out and then forget it again. It was a very unwise way of doing it because it enabled me to pass exams but not to understand my subject and I had nightmares about sitting exams for years afterwards. My husband is just the opposite, he learns very slowly and methodically and retains it for life.
You are the best judge of what your brain will absorb and retain and how best to manage your revision and your OCD is putting huge stumbling blocks in your way at present. The mental blocks are telling you that there is too much stress on your brain so you need to do whatever you can to look after your brain, drink plenty of fluids, try to get adequate good quality sleep, eat healthily and get some fresh air and exercise and relaxation. You need to balance this with your revision schedule because if you are worrying excessively because you are not revising then you are reducing the beneficial effects of trying to relax.
I think once you get into the exam you will find your mind becomes absorbed and everything you have learned will come flooding back, if it doesn't you will have done your best and no-one can do more than that.
Exams are important for a future career but they are certainly not important enough to wreck your mental health.

Sun Jan 8 2012 11:57:10 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Jon,

I agree with what everyone's said. Try and relax today.

Also don't listen to any of your friends before or after the exam,that'll just panic you.
I agree I came out of one exam and everyone was talking about one of the questions and they had all put a totally different answer to me. I was then convinced that I'd got the question wrong and spent weeks worrying. When we got the results I was the only one to have passed that particular question.
Moral of the story: Once you've done the exam just forget it and don't talk to others about it, it will just make you more anxious. I always found that the ones that were mouthing off the most were usually the ones who'd got it wrong

Sun Jan 8 2012 12:16:34 #
slogsweep
Member

Exams are important for a future career but they are certainly not important enough to wreck your mental health.

Amen Tess. Seeing cancer first hand along with knowing the feeling of a full mental breakdown showed me how little money and exams matter. I'm being hypocritical as I was sad about an exam result the other day, but I never worry about them until the results come out.

I hope you're relaxing Blues, it may be counter-intuitive but you're an intelligent person who can cope with exams without resorting to excessive and damaging over-revision.

Slog

Sun Jan 8 2012 15:24:31 #
wannabefree
Member

'Also don't listen to any of your friends before or after the exam,that'll just panic you.'
I do so agree with this one, Crikey, when I did my CSE's at school I was close to breakdown over this. I'd done the maths exam, then had a maths class a few days later, when some of the questions were reviewed. I was convinced I'd done it all wrong, and I believe the people around me, were winding me up about it. I did get a pass, it wasn't a good one, but I hated maths at school anyway!
So yes, you do the exam, and then run for it, speak to no one, or all the wind up people will have a field day with you. It's rough you've basically been having to effectively revise through your Christmas break, that is to my mind bad timing for exams for anyone.
Wannabe

Sun Jan 8 2012 16:35:10 #
playthoseblues
Member

Thanks for the replies guys

I've gone today without doing any revision and its been tough! But I've managed it. I'm gonna speak to my teachers tommorow too, because I don't want to panic but I am inside

I also keep semi-consicouslly going through the work in my mind..

Jon

Sun Jan 8 2012 17:56:47 #
Tess
Member

Hi Jon
I don't think semi-consciously going through work in your mind is necessarily bad as long as it's not constant, we all do that and it helps to reinforce the memory - and to work out the bits you have forgotten and need to refresh.
Try and have a relaxing and enjoyable evening and forget about the work until tomorrow if you can.

Sun Jan 8 2012 18:06:00 #
Twitchy
Member

When have you got your first exam?

Sun Jan 8 2012 19:03:43 #
playthoseblues
Member

Tuesday and Wednesday Twitchy

Paniking quite a bit. But it's like a fast heart rate!

Sun Jan 8 2012 19:26:37 #
playthoseblues
Member

Its like its getting worse too... I just want to stop thinking about exams!! But I can't calm down

Sun Jan 8 2012 19:55:11 #
Truddles
Member

Hi Jon,

Don't consciously try to stop thinking about exams or that's all you'll be able to think of (if you're told not to think of pink elephants then that's all you can think of ) instead keep your mind occupied thinking of anything other than exams etc.

Sun Jan 8 2012 23:51:54 #
aishah
Member

Hi Jon,

Firstly well done for achieving everything that you have done so far! An incredible feat when you have OCD.

I have always suffered from mental blocks and know how distressing it is. But like everyone has said you will be fine!

My son who is going through G.C.S.E's at the moment is so stressed out, but the more he remains stressed the harder it will be for him.

So try to relax and go with the flow.

Good Luck

Bridget

Mon Jan 9 2012 9:18:12 #
Wombat140
Member

Get a good book to read or watch TV. Don't leave room to think about exams. I find it's the only way when I've got something on the brain. Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.

Mon Jan 9 2012 12:51:28 #
Twitchy
Member

Hi Jon,how u feeling about tomorrow?

Mon Jan 9 2012 16:14:16 #
playthoseblues
Member

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I felt really rubbish during the day, but I'm feeling a bit better now. I did some deep relaxation stuff earlier which has sedated me slightly

I'm going to go to bed soon and get a good nights sleep too

Thanks for the replies

Jon

Mon Jan 9 2012 20:41:27 #
playthoseblues
Member

Hi Guys,

Todays exam went well, but I'm really stressing about tommorows. I feel sick and have knots in my stomach!!!

Tue Jan 10 2012 19:28:24 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Jon, well done on getting through todays exam! That's one less to do now. Tomorrow, same routine, go in, do the best you can on the day, and that'll be another one done. How many more do you have then? Hopefully not many?
Wannabe

Tue Jan 10 2012 19:33:54 #
playthoseblues
Member

Just Biology tommorowm but I'm feeling all fizzy and like on edge!

Tue Jan 10 2012 20:35:17 #
wannabefree
Member

Which biology, Human? or whatever the other one is called!
Wannabe

Tue Jan 10 2012 20:43:35 #
playthoseblues
Member

A Level. To do with CVD and Cystic Fribrosis

Tue Jan 10 2012 20:47:05 #
wannabefree
Member

That's out of my league, save to say that it is organic plumbing to me!
All the best with it, and then go and celebrate after...
Wannabe

Tue Jan 10 2012 21:08:06 #
playthoseblues
Member

Biology was ok, pretty hard, and others complained too, Feel a bit naff at the moment, because I know that I got some questions wrong

Wed Jan 11 2012 18:27:44 #
Tess
Member

Jon, sounds like you weren't the only one and you may be pleasantly surprised when you get the results - and yesterday went well. You did your best and you can't change it now so take a break and try to enjoy your evening.

Wed Jan 11 2012 18:36:23 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi Jon, well done on getting through the exam... Don't try to think of what may or may not have gone wrong. It is done now, you did the best you could at the time, and that time is past now... At least there's no more revision to do tonight. As Tess says, just relax now and enjoy your evening. There is no choice now but to wait to see how well you did, not how bad you may think you did. Pop a favourite DVD on or some music, but don't discuss the questions, you'll end up thinking you've failed, when you almost certainly haven't... I'm sure you've done good, cos of the work you put in. You've done enough...
Wannabe

Wed Jan 11 2012 20:06:20 #

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