Managing Exam Stress
By Jo Magowan - Homeopath
We are in revision mode at my house. My eldest son starts his GCSEs on Thursday, so it's nose to the grindstone for him, and for many others approaching this year's exam season.
It can be a difficult time. And as the pressure builds, symptoms such as anxiety, headaches, insomnia and exhaustion might make an unwelcome appearance. Here's a few practical tips and some top homeopathic remedies to help us all sail through as healthily and successfully as possible. Good luck everyone!
Eat well
A healthy diet is at the heart of our physical and mental good health. So increase the wholegrain carbs and fresh fruit/veg and try to reduce processed food, alcohol, caffeine and refined sugars. Magnesium and Zinc are easily depleted by stress, so top up on these important minerals by eating plenty of leafy greens, legumes, seeds, nuts, avocado and dark chocolate (for Magnesium) and eggs, red meat, cashews and legumes (for Zinc).
Rest up
Our bodies flush out cortisol and other stress hormones whilst we sleep, so a good night’s rest can help us stay calm, positive and emotionally well regulated. Sleep even plays a part in memory function as it is whilst we are asleep that our brains consolidate memories, building new neural pathways to store and process the things we’ve learned in the day.
Stay hydrated
All our organs need water to function properly, so becoming dehydrated puts a strain on our body, making us feel stressed and edgy. In fact, dehydration can cause symptoms that feel very much like anxiety, such as nausea, dizziness, headaches and an increased heart-rate.
And relax...
Exercise and relaxation techniques can help us stay focussed, reduce stress and sleep better. Deep breathing, yoga, and meditation might be your thing. Or perhaps you prefer thrashing out your stress and agitation through high-intensity cardio exercise. Find whatever feels good and build it in to your revision schedule.
Homeopathic remedies for exam stress:
Aconite This is probably the most important remedy for acute fear and panic. Consider using Aconite when the person is restless and panicky, fearing the worst possible outcome. There may be heart palpitations, restlessness and even difficulty taking a breath. It’s a fast acting remedy so don’t be afraid of repeating frequently if needed, (but stop as soon as you feel relief).
Argentum Nitricum This a great remedy for anticipatory anxiety and is often used for stage-fright or before a driving test, exam or any 'performance' that’s causing major nerves. There is a sense that it will all go wrong, and the more they think, the worse it gets. The person needing Arg Nit is typically warm, nervous and hurried, sometimes turning to comfort food to try and feel better. They may also be prone to diarrhoea and gastric issues from prolonged mental effort and anxiety.
Arsenicum People who do well with Arsenicum tend to be high achievers, naturally fastidious and well organised. So when any or all of these feel compromised, anxiety will follow. There is likely to be restlessness, chilliness and there may be diarrhoea/nausea alongside the worry. They will seek out company for reassurance.
Anacardium This is a great remedy for those who have a real crisis of confidence and feel totally incapable. The memory is weak, so people needing Anacardium are likely to be very forgetful, to the extent of feeling blank and vague, as though they cannot hold on to any information. This in turn leads to a sense of being entirely helpless and powerless.
Gelsemium A well known remedy for exam nerves, there is often a feeling of apprehension with trembling and even feeling literally 'paralysed' with fear. They may feel weak, heavy and dizzy, leaving them unable to concentrate, feeling helpless and wanting to hide away from it all.
Nux Vomica Nux Vom symptoms tend to centre around the digestive system, often including heartburn, indigestion and irritability. This is a particularly good remedy for those last-minute revisers who have been burning the candle at both ends, who wake at 3am and find it hard to drop back off due to a rush of thoughts.
Kali Phos This is a wonderful remedy for nervous exhaustion. Consider using it when there is mental or physical weakness and fatigue brought on by over-studying. There may be headache, dizziness, and especially insomnia or disturbed sleep.
A final note… Homeopathy always works best when prescriptions are individual and personalised, so please do contact me (or any professional homeopath) for more bespoke care, or if you're not sure which remedy to use. And I wish everyone the best of luck in all their exams this year!
To find out more about homeopathy and to book a consultation with Jo Magowan RSHom, please visit www.jomagowan.co.uk or call Jo directly on 07875 269831.