I Treat Test Anxiety
Dr Jay Mclean-Riggs MD MPH
21 years of experience as an educator
Why do so many people suffer from test anxiety?
Text Anxiety is very common. It is a type of panic attack.
It comes from traumatic experiences taking tests or exams or around results, often in childhood. Teachers can create test anxiety and so can parents. The experience becomes internalized and is repeated with each new trigger resulting in a stronger anxiety as you grow older.
Test anxiety is especially common in the immigrant population as there is a lot of pressure to perform. It is not limited to immigrants though! Anyone can get test anxiety, no matter how smart or hard working you are.
Why do so many people suffer from test anxiety?
Text Anxiety is very common. It is a type of panic attack.
It comes from traumatic experiences taking tests or exams or around results, often in childhood. Teachers can create test anxiety and so can parents. The experience becomes internalized and is repeated with each new trigger resulting in a stronger anxiety as you grow older.
Test anxiety is especially common in the immigrant population as there is a lot of pressure to perform. It is not limited to immigrants though! Anyone can get test anxiety, no matter how smart or hard working you are.
My Background and Approach
I have been teaching at the college level for 21 years in an environment where students come from many different backgrounds including socioeconomic status, race, nationality, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation.
I teach and have taught Anatomy and Physiology, Global Health, Pathophysiology, basic biology, nutrition and others.
I have made a study of pedagogy (the science and art of teaching and learning). I work with students with a very wide range of learning styles and intellectual capacities. I have introduced many innovative and creative ways to teach.
I have diagnosed dozens of students who have good understanding of the material with test anxiety when their test performance does not do justice to their work or their understanding.
I have worked with dozens of students to overcome test anxiety and improve their grades. As grades improve, anxiety reduces, confidence grows and overall academic performance gets dramatically better.
What is test anxiety?
Test anxiety is a form of panic attack. It results from stimulation of the limbic system of the brain by fear. When that becomes intense the cerebral cortex that you use to retrieve and process information is shut down. You experience a complete inability to remember (often called "blanking out") and an irrational inability to process information you read.
People also experience the usual symptoms and signs of panic attacks - racing heartbeat, rapid breathing, sweating, trembling, nausea, weakness or dizziness, tingling or numb hands, chest pain and/or stomach pains.
Test anxiety is not under the person's control. It cannot be "powered through" and cannot be treated without help.
How can test Anxiety be treated?
Test Anxiety can be treated in many ways. I recommend a customized combination of some or all of them.
Talk therapy or coaching to reveal the source of the original trauma and triggers and bring adult perspectives to that trauma.
Peer support groups engaging with test anxiety as out of your control but still treatable.
Cognitive conditioning to learn and practice skills so you don't respond to the triggers.
Behavioral techniques to be proactive in reducing anticipatory anxiety.
Use of redirecting focus and blood flow techniques during the test or exam to resolve increasing anxiety.
Techniques such as aromatherapy and deep breathing to reduce the physiological symptoms.
Medications both naturopathic and pharmaceutical can be used.
Testimonials
" Dr Jay helped me to increase my grade from a C to an A.
"Dr Jay
"
Rates
Introductory & Exploratory Session : $10/15 mins
Group Sessions: $30/hr (maximum group size is 6 people)
Series of 4 group sessions: $100
One on one Sessions: $75/hr
Series of 4 one-on-one Sessions: $250
Times
Group Series are on Monday at 7-8pm or Saturday at 12noon-1pm
New Group Series Start the first Monday of the Month at 7-8pm or first Saturday of the Month 12 Noon-1pm
Continuing Group Sessions TBA (to be arranged with group)
Separate (just one or sign up one at a time) Group Sessions Monday at 5-6pm or Saturday at 10-11am
One on One Series are Tuesday 7-8pm or Saturday 2-3pm
One on One Series Start the first Tuesday Available 7-8pm or the first Saturday Available 2-3pm
Separate (just one or sign up one at a time) One on One Sessions Tuesday 5-6pm, Saturday after 3pm as available or by special arrangement