 It's normal to feel a little stressed out about a test, but some teenagers have such severe test anxiety that it interferes with their life. Many people think that test anxiety is just an excuse and that anxious teens need to "toughen up." Unfortunately, teen mental health issues are often stigmatized. However, teen test anxiety is a major problem and needs to be taken seriously.
How is test anxiety different from regular stress? Most teens want to do well in school, and tests are big events. Expressing concern about an upcoming test, staying up late to study, and acting tenser than usual the morning of an exam is normal. Extreme psychological distress, "blanking out" on all the information studied, and believing you're a failure if you perform poorly on one test is not normal. Test anxiety is a form of performance anxiety. The symptoms may begin before the exam, but they typically reach a peak while taking the test. The psychological symptoms are often accompanied by these physical symptoms:
In severe cases, test anxiety can even lead to a panic attack, which may feel like a heart attack. Panic attacks are sudden and intense bouts of anxiety even though there is no real danger. How can I help my teen overcome test anxiety? The first step in helping your teen overcome their anxiety is recognizing it. Many people who experience test anxiety are embarrassed to talk about it because they don't think others will understand. Even if you don't relate to their experience, it's important to listen and empathize with your teen. Honest communication is the best way to help you and your teen figure out what they need to do to overcome their anxiety. You should also help set your teen up for success on their exams. Try not to stress them out or be too overbearing, but support them and help them develop good habits. The more confident and prepared they are before the exam, the less likely they are to experience anxiety. Good habits to promote include:
Another option is to suggest some relaxation techniques. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and progressive muscle relaxation are all great ways to physically and mentally relax. Your teen can take these skills into school with them and even practice them during the exam to calm down if they start to feel anxious. If your teen's test anxiety is causing serious distress and affecting their performance in school, you may want to seek professional help. It's often possible to overcome test anxiety on your own. However, a therapist or counselor can work with your teen to develop better skills to tackle their anxiety. Even just a few therapy sessions can make a big difference and can help your teen keep a calm and clear mind at school.
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 In spite of what many people tend to believe, infidelity can and does happen, regardless of gender. That being said, both men and women struggle with it. As they go about their day, they encounter a number of temptations. Whether it’s an attractive coworker or a secret, online lover, the result is always the same. Initially, infidelity may be difficult to overcome; however, it’s certainly not impossible. There are several ways a person can get over this age-old problem, as long as they're willing to make some changes.
Discuss What Took Place A man or a woman can stray for one reason or another. In most cases, however, it means that something’s just not right. In other words, the person isn’t getting his physical or emotional needs met in his current relationship or marriage. Thus, infidelity may be caused by one or more of the following:
A person can make huge improvements by simply being open to change. First of all, they should attempt to discuss the occurrence with his spouse. Doing so will give them the opportunity to get a better idea of what’s happening on the other end. It can be incredibly difficult for a person to empathize with someone, who’s unwilling to express their own feelings about something that’s had an effect on them. Too often, the opposite party will keep their emotions all bottled up inside and show their unhappiness through indirect ways. This tends to be extremely counterproductive, however. In order to successfully overcome infidelity, the person will need to know how their actions affect the other party. Spend More Time Together What else can a person do to get rid of his tendency to be unfaithful? Start going out of their way to spend more time with their spouse. In doing so, the goal should be to establish a better connection with their partner. If they're able to feel love and care for their spouse, they're much less likely to engage in behavior that’s hurtful. Seek the Help of a Knowledgeable Therapist Finally, they should seek out marriage therapy. Sometimes, a situation’s progressed so far that professional assistance is needed for a successful recovery. The therapist will be familiar with the typical underlying causes and the setbacks that only serve to get in the way. Getting professional help could very well save the couple’s relationship or marriage. In this day and age, there are so many obstacles that make recovery a challenge. Consequently, more and more couples are finding it hard to remain faithful to each other. Working on the relationship at home and with a skilled therapist will get a person who struggles with infidelity back on track in no time. |
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Greater Houston Counseling Services, PLLC
PO Box 840237 Houston, TX 77284 "Making your day a little easier" Phone: (832) 717-7166 |
Four locations across the Houston area |