Struggling with exam anxiety? Hypnotherapy can help!

Exam Package - I am offering a discounted exam package for all students. Two hourly sessions plus a bespoke recording and ongoing support is available for just £160.

Call me to book your slot: 07989 535527. (Remote or face-to-face appointments).

The Power of Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy techniques can be a very effective way to help students stay calm focused and confident before and during exams. They provide an inner support system as our thoughts have a very physical impact on our bodies. Stress and anxiety slow down blood supply to the brain and other organs which can leave less confident students at a massive disadvantage.

Mind / Body Connection

Fear is a powerful emotion. The body produces stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in response to any perceived threat. These hormones can help us cope and prepare for action in a real emergency, but they are not useful for exams!

What does Anxiety Feel Like?

People experience nerves in different ways, including butterflies or tummy aches, sweaty palms, headaches, shaking hands, dry mouth, a sudden need for the bathroom, inability to sit still, or a racing heart. Many people can also experience sleeping and eating issues and just having fun in the usual way may feel impossible.

Tough Times

It’s not just the exams and the studying that are challenging - the anxiety of results and possible disappointment also need consideration. It can all feel very overwhelming. Exams and tests can have a major impact on students' mental health.

Healthy Stress

Some stress is good for us. It motivates us to achieve and get difficult things done but becomes detrimental to our ability to think logically and process information. Learning healthy coping and relaxation strategies helps students with all kinds of stress management and are skills for life.

How Can Hypnotherapy Help?

Hypnotherapy is a multi-faceted approach and can help students through the following:

Mind and Body Relaxation - controlled breathing techniques and mindfully learning to relax the body allow the entire nervous system to calm down. Self-hypnosis techniques can be taught and used when needed, even during an exam.
Visualisations - guided exercises help build confidence and reduce fear of failure. The mind can be primed into thinking a good outcome has already happened.
Cognitive Reframing - exploring and reframing negative beliefs about exams and learning, replacing them with more empowering ones. Building inner self-belief at this deep level is life-changing.
Behaviour Change - we behave differently when we unconsciously ‘give up’. Changing how we think and replacing negative thoughts with more positive ones will make studying more productive and interesting. Hypnotherapy techniques can reframe a fear of failure with incredible results.
Power of Suggestion - suggestive recordings that students can listen to regularly can powerfully reinforce what the unconscious needs to hear.

What are Other Ways to Help Students Cope?

Talking - this helps to keep exams in perspective. By reaching out, others can offer support and encouragement.

Self-care - a balanced diet (not too much sugar), exercising, getting enough sleep, and having time to relax and focus on other things is key. Eating foods that slowly release energy will help avoid energy crashes that can make studying and exams harder.

Being in Flow - taking enough time to do other things and ‘let off steam’. Being in a ‘flow state’ is hugely impactful – this is when people lose track of time and feel very in the moment. This is often achieved by activities such as playing sports, playing or listening to music, or chatting with friends. Exams are important, but they aren’t everything. In flow, the busy mind gets some respite from worries and is deeply rejuvenating.

All in the Mind - preparing for an exam and successfully completing it is not just about how knowledgeable we are, but also about our state of mind. Feeling calm, relaxed, focused, and confident allows students to achieve their full potential.

Cognitive Hypnotherapist, Alison Scott, commented, “The way you feel and behave when studying and taking exams is based on the prediction pattern you have developed from past experiences. Your unconscious mind expects you to feel a certain way, and so you do. Hypnotherapy challenges the unconscious mind’s expectations, reduces negative emotions attached to previous experiences, and allows the mind to refocus on feelings of calm and confidence.

“The good news for students is that young people are usually much quicker at accepting change than adults as they are still shaping their opinions and views and their negative experiences will be fewer. They also feel empowered learning new practical tools that they know can help them and just having these up their sleeve is a great comfort”.