Reader’s Question

I am a 17-year-old female doing my A-level classes and exams. I think I have some kind of a serious exam phobia, and I get really scared when it comes to exams.

I have never been an outstanding student, but as years have passed I have been deteriorating in my studies, and now I flunk in most of my subjects. I sometimes feel I am having some kind of a memory problems because I keep forgetting my things everywhere. A few days back I lost my wallet with my money and some very important membership cards. Then, I lost my iPod and my phone.

I have no idea what to do, and I’d be really thankful if you could help me find a solution to my problem.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

There are so many possible reasons for the difficulty you’re experiencing that it’s really impossible to give you accurate, direct advice. However, there are a few things you might want to consider.

Problems with memory and attention can lead to high levels of anxiety in situations that require sustained focus and mental clarity. Many conditions can affect a person’s mental acuity, focusing ability, and apprehension levels.

Persons with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) — which can be accompanied by restlessness, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity (ADHD) — often have trouble relegating information to long-term memory storage, making it difficult for them to recall information when they need to do so. The problems which folks with ADD have with attention and memory can precipitate a fair amount of anxiety when they face tasks that require focus and good recall. Persons struggling with Depression, even depression of a relatively mild level, can also experienced heightened anxiety levels as well as difficulty concentrating and remembering. Lastly, some individuals are truly phobic about test-taking situations. There is an optimal level of anxiety and stress one needs to have to perform well on tests. Too little apprehension and one might not buckle down and learn material well enough. Too much stress and anxiety, and one’s performance levels are likely to suffer and one is also likely to engage in a fair degree of phobic avoidance of pressure situations.

It would be best to visit with your school counselor and begin a process of more formal, professional evaluation about the reasons for the difficulties you’re having. There are safe, effective means of helping people overcome any of the conditions described above that might possibly be affecting your test-taking ability. So, seek out the assistance you need and take heart in the knowledge that some help is readily available to you.