Examinations are a routine of school and college life. All students are required to take exams. Although exams help test learning, they are a source of stress for most students. Some students feel nervous. Some feel scared. Others may feel bored or confused. These emotions continue to build as the examination date approaches.
Exam-related stress may have numerous effects on students. It can make studying hard. It can disturb sleep. It can lower confidence. When stress is too powerful, it may damage mental and physical health.
Mental health counseling is significant in helping students overcome exam stress. Counselling provides support, care and advice to the students. It makes them relax, think positively and feel secure when taking exams.
This blog describes the benefits of mental health counselling in dealing with test anxiety and the relevance of this type of counselling when it comes to exams and the emotional state of students.
Exam stress is the stress that students feel before or during exams. It arises when students are too much worried about outcomes, marks or failure. A little stress allows students to stay alert. Too much stress is an issue.
When the stress is intense, it may overwhelm students. They may believe that exams are challenging and cannot be handled easily. This can affect their performance.
Exam stress does not affect everyone in the same way. However, many students have the same signs.
Students can be anxious, frightened or depressed. Others might experience anger or frustration. Some may cry frequently or feel hopeless.
Stress may have effects such as headaches, stomach aches, body aches or fatigue. Other students will experience not knowing the reasons why they are not feeling well.
Students forget things they have learnt. They may find it hard to focus. Negative thoughts may accompany this.
These signs indicate that a student may need support.
A big number of students feel that exams determine their future. They are under pressure to achieve good scores. This assumption brings fear and stress.
The fear of failing exams is quite very common. Students can be afraid of displeasing their parents or teachers. They can be humiliated by poor scores.
Teachers and parents would like the students to perform well. At times, expectations are overwhelming, and students have to be their best. This increases stress.
Lack of study planning leaves the students in a hurry. Panic and confusion are generated by last-minute studying.
Comparing marks with friends may reduce confidence. Students may feel inferior.
Mental counselling is not a safe or professional practice. During counselling, students share their thoughts and feelings. A good counsellor is a responsive and empathetic listener.
Counselling will help students understand their stress and learn simple methods to manage it, which can improve their academic performance. It deals with mental harmony, calmness, and balance.
Mental health counselling helps the students in numerous aspects:
Counselling does not focus on judging marks but helps students cope with academic pressure and performance anxiety.
Examinations cause loneliness and fear in the students. Counselling provides them with a person to communicate with. Sharing concerns helps reduce stress.
Counsellors remind the students that it is okay to be stressed. This helps students feel included and accommodated.
Counsellors assist students in identifying the cause of their stress. Fear among the students stresses them because of fear of failure.
After identifying the problem, it becomes easier to solve. Appropriate counselling techniques are then applied.
A lot of students put negative thoughts in their minds, such as:
Counsellors assist students to substitute these thoughts with positive thoughts, including:
Good thoughts decrease fear, and confidence develops.
Counsellors teach easy breathing exercises. When we breathe slowly, it will relax not only the body but also the mind.
Relaxation helps students feel calm during study time and in examinations.
Counselling is used to help students present. This prevents the overthinking of outcomes or errors.
Basic concentration exercises help students be calm and alert.
Counsellors help students develop simple study plans. A plan makes the learning process less stressful.
Study plans include:
Good planning helps students prevent stress at the last moment. This enhances learning and memory.
Once students are ready, they will not be so stressed.
Stress not only impacts the mind. It also affects the body.
Students may feel:
Counselling will educate students on how to care for their bodies during exams.
Sleep helps the brain rest and store information. Students are guided by counsellors to have a better sleep routine.
Examples of healthy sleeping habits are:
Counsellors remind students of what they have already achieved and their strengths. This builds self-belief.
Confidence makes the students approach exams without dread.
Counselling helps students in establishing basic objectives. Smaller objectives seem more attainable and less stressful.
Every minor accomplishment brings confidence.
Counselling helps students understand that errors are part of the learning process. The exams do not mean the end of the road.
This helps them overcome fear and get on.
Counsellors make students realise that failure does not define a student and is part of the learning process.
Counselling makes marks subordinate to effort. Exams become less frightening when the students are concentrated on studying.
Counselling enables the students to remain firm in difficult situations. Emotional strength helps students overcome failures.
Students learn to:
The lessons learned in counselling are valuable outside of exams. They assist in daily life, college and work.
Mental Health Counselling Benefits over the Long Term.
The reduction of stress leads students to:
Skills in counselling are lifelong:
The skills can be applied at any period of life.
Mental health counselling is never a weakness. It is an indicator of affection and self-respect.
It helps students:
Minor problems are avoided at an earlier stage.
Mentrovert is an India-based platform created to support students with both mental health and career guidance. It is specifically created to target students in classes 9 to 12 who experience stress on exams and key academic choices. These years may be confusing and stressful, and many students need someone who understands their challenges.
Mentrovert links the students to trained mental health and career counsellors using a one-on-one online session. The sessions are individual and student-centred. The advice is non-judgmental, loving, and straightforward.
The platform also offers counselling services so that all students can access help. Parents also get mentored and hence they get to learn how their child is stressed when taking board and competitive tests. Mentrovert would like to become a reliable source of support to the students, assisting them to feel confident, relaxed and supported throughout their studies.
Students are likely to feel stressed in exams. Without any help, it could be harmful to learning and mental health. Mental health counselling also helps the students to seek a secure space under which they are taught to deal with stress in healthy manners.
Counselling helps the students psychologically and emotionally. It generates self esteem, focus and strength. With proper guidance, students will be able to take exams calmly without last-minute panic.
Emotional stability and academic achievement are two problematic elements of mental health counselling.
Yes. Many students experience exam stress at different levels.
Yes. Counselling helps students remain calm and confident.
When stress is affecting sleep, concentration, or mood, students need assistance.
No. Counselling is helpful in various fields of life.
Yes. Counselling is non-harmful, conducive and beneficial.
