In today’s society the issue with exam stress is a level too high. In particular, I refer to the leaving cert. With a child doing the leaving cert I would go to say that the whole house is doing the leaving cert, it is a big stress for the whole family.
Student exam stress refers to the anxiety, pressure or worry that students experience in the lead up to or during exams. This stress can be caused by several factors including fear of failure, the pressure to perform well, the amount of study required or concerns about the outcome- the road to college etc.
Symptoms of exam stress can include nervousness, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping or physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach aches. In Clare Wellness Clinic it is a common experience for students at all levels of education.
The leaving cert is probably the most stressful exam one will take, and it is an important milestone in life. It is a lot of pressure with a big impact on future academic and career opportunities.
Using kinesiology can be an effective way to manage exam stress by using techniques that promote relaxation, improve balance the bodies energy.
Stress reduction- I use muscle testing to identify areas of stress and tension in the body. By correcting these imbalances, it helps reduce physical and mental stress promoting a sense of calm.
Enhancing focus and memory- certain kinesiology techniques are aimed at improving brain function and co-ordination between the left to right side of the brain. This leads to better focus, concentration and memory recall during exams and study.
Emotional balance- Kinesiology addresses emotional stress by identifying individual emotion specific to each person and using techniques to release emotional or mental blocks that may affect performance, such as anxiety, self-doubt and fear of failure.
Promote relaxation- specific movement and breathing exercises in kinesiology help to activate the parasympathetic nervous system which encourages a relaxed state, making it easier to deal with stress leading up to and during exams.
Energy flow- with stress and trauma comes unbalanced energy in the body. I use techniques like acupressure, tapping or gentle stretches which restores energy of the body which can also improve overall wellbeing and reduce stress levels.
A future performance technique is used at this point to bring a clear vision of the students own personal goal. Each student presents at the clinic with various symptoms and stress. Each student is in receipt of a treatment tailored to their emotions/ stress using techniques such as ESR, future performance, mindset reset, goal setting, time management around study/ play, creating the correct environment for study to name a few. Australian bush flower remedies are a great tool to support students. These remedies are specially selected to suit individual students along with kinesiology testing.
Having a positive mindset and the vision to look at your own individual journey and goals is a great start. Getting into your own lane and owning it is crucial.
“It is not the mountain that we conquer, but ourselves.”
