Anxiousness that u had overcome

@SafeSpacewithB

The most anxious situation that I have ever been in was my first official calculus exam at the university I attend. I noticed every time I would sit down and try to study my heart would pound and I would get cold sweats along with blurred vision. To overcome this situation I did several things: 

1. Reframed my mindset: Instead of "have to do well" I tried "I'll do my best and that's enough." This helped me to shift my perfectionist thinking into a progression perspective. Also this helped me remind myself that an exam does not define my worth. 

2. Preparing smart, not just trying to cover all of the material and every problem. I broke the material down into bite sizes and practiced with past exams and mock questions. 

3. Deep breathing exercises, I calmed my body to calm my mind. I made sure to incorporate movement into my study days by walking around, exercising and stretching. 

4. I also had to create a calm routine, where I was making sure to get the necessary amount of sleep every day. My study space was also clean, comforting and distraction free. 

5. I spoke with my friends and family about the way I was feeling towards the exam. This helped me to know that I won't be judged or scrutinized over this exam and that life will not stop even if I do not do good. 

My mom said something to me that has always stuck with me through every high stress/anxious situations, "Courage isn't the absence of anxiety, it is moving forward despite it."