Hey guys its a very emotional Becky here, I feel like stress does this to me a lot, I'm always so uptight about situations like exams and workload but then when its all over then what, nothing, all that stress for nothing.
I know that many people my age experience this type of stuff and its very common so here are some tips for you guys or even for loved ones to help realise some of the signs to look out for when some one needs your help.
- Difficulty getting to sleep or difficulty waking up in the morning
- Constant tiredness
- Forgetfulness
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Poor appetite
- Loss of interest in activities
- Increased anxiety and irritability
- Increased heart rate
- Migraines/headaches
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
A while ago I suffered quite bad with exam stress and this lead me to loose a lot of weight, as you may know I am what you call petite, I'm only 5'1 and weigh just over 6 stone, however during a very stressful time I hardly ate, I lost almost 8kg which is substantial amount for someone my size. and as a girl most of that weight loss dramatically affected one part of my body.. yeah I'm not gunna say it. this lead to harsh critics and some very hard questions to answer for others concerned.
The NHS states that if you are having problems with more than three from that list then something should be done about your stress levels. I understand that everyone has different ways in which they like to distress but here are some generic ideas to get you started.
- Learn to recognise when you're stressing out. A break or a chat with someone who knows the pressure you're under will get things into perspective.
- Avoid comparing your abilities with your mates. Those "Oh my God I've only read Macbeth 17 times" conversations are such a wind up. Everyone approaches revision in different ways, so just make sure you've chosen the method that works best for you. Make a realistic timetable. Stick to it.
- Eat right. Treat yourself like a well honed machine - eat fresh fruit and veg and have a proper breakfasts. Fuel your brain as well as your body - no one can think straight on coffee and chocolate.
- Sleep well. Wind down before bed and don't revise under the duvet - your bed is a sanctuary, not a desk. Get your eight hours.
- Exercise. Nothing de-stresses the mind faster than physical activity, so build it into your timetable. Being a sloth makes our mind sloppy too.
- Quit the bad habits. Cigarettes and alcohol never stopped anyone being stressed for very long.
- Panic is often triggered by hyperventilating (quick, shallow breaths). So if you feel yourself losing it during the exam, sit back for a moment and control your breathing. Deep breath in and out through the nose, counting to five each way.
- Steer clear of any exam 'post-mortem'. It doesn't matter what your mate wrote for Question 3(b), it's too late to go back and change your answers, so it will just make you worry even more.
Love you guys,
Becky xx
No comments:
Post a Comment