Hypnomel

Test anxiety occurs when your mind panics, causing your sympathetic nervous system to react with a release of adrenaline, which can result in physical symptoms, like sweating, difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest.

I'm probably the only hypnotherapist you've ever met who is also a licensed CA attorney. I want to offer some advice to those of you who are taking the bar in February that can help you prevent against test anxiety:

1. Have plenty of protein snacks handy during exam day. Anxiety is exacerbated when your blood sugar is low.

2. If you panic during the exam, take 3 deep breaths. With each exhale, focus on letting all the tension out of your body. Breathing restores the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

3. Create an anchor which will allow you to instantly access the state of mind of being relaxed. For example, I sometimes have my clients imagine a time when they felt really relaxed. Remember a specific time. Do you have a picture of it in your mind? Make that picture really vivid. Now, choose an object, like your pen or pencil or laptop that you can use as an anchor to bring you back to this state of mind anytime you need. So, for instance, every time you grasp your pen, you will immediately be able to access the feelings that you now have when you think about that relaxing experience you had. And with relaxation, comes concentration. With concentration, your ability to recall information increases. If, during the exam, you start to get nervous, put your pen down. Take a deep breath. As soon as you pick up that pen again, you will instantly access those feelings of relaxation and focus.

If you need more tips or advice, please feel free to email me or visit my website:
www.hypnoswitch.com

Category: Bar Exam - General

alabamalaw

Another tip is to practice under timed condition so that you know how to adjust to the way your body reacts. For example, if you get tired after only 2 hours of sitting down, then you need to exercise and build your body. If you get hungry easily, then you know to bring snacks with you, etc.