Exam anxiety - any relief aid/pill? Forum

[BeenDidThat]

Are people serious with these recommendations?

Are you going to rely on medication when you have to draft a memo overnight? Man up. Pop some shots if you have to.

lolwut

[johansantana21]

You guys have memos due right before finals? Damn.

[somewhatwayward]

beta blockers (propanolol, same as Inderal) is TCR....they calm you down without interfering with your cognitive processes, unlike xanax/valium/ativan/klonopin, etc.

you do need an rx but i think it would be worth an hour or two spent getting it, especially since you've studied so much already

[Honeysuckle]

The clear answer is cannabis.

This. A little puff puff pass with your study group after a long study sesh? Solid.

Unless you're applying for gov't summer jobs that will likely drug test.

[fish tacos]

The clear answer is cannabis.

This. A little puff puff pass with your study group after a long study sesh? Solid.

Unless you're applying for gov't summer jobs that will likely drug test.

Yep. That background check is a killer. I can pass any drug test... it's not that hard to stop smoking, especially if you're just a social user. But when they ask if you've used any drugs in the last five years? Check please. Private sector it is, I guess.

[Honeysuckle]

The clear answer is cannabis.

This. A little puff puff pass with your study group after a long study sesh? Solid.

Unless you're applying for gov't summer jobs that will likely drug test.

Yep. That background check is a killer. I can pass any drug test... it's not that hard to stop smoking, especially if you're just a social user. But when they ask if you've used any drugs in the last five years? Check please. Private sector it is, I guess.

You could also intern for the legal dep't of NORML. Obviously they won't mind.

[crit_racer]

Beta blockers are good. They don't make you foggy like Benzos (xanax, valium, klonpin, etc) and they work to quell the physical symptoms of your anxiety.

IME, anxiety is a vicious cycle. You freak out so your body reacts, then you freak out more b/c your body is reacting. beta blockers stop this at the physical level and make it easier to calm down mentally. Any doc will prescribe them...they're not dangerous or anything.

Try one out before using on an exam...but you should be fine. G'luck!

[BaiAilian2013]

Beta blockers can help with that, I used to have anxiety in some situations and used them for that.

This. I asked my doc for 20mg inderal (standard beta blocker, super safe) for test anxiety. If your anxiety is more generalized during the exam season, rather than concentrated during the specific testing time, you can also try your luck with klonopin (0.5mg) or xanax (1.5mg).

Just as a note to OP and/or PSA, this is way too high of a dose to start out with. Your doctor would likely recommend you start with 0.25 mg, maybe 0.5 mg. I don't know how that translates to all the other benzodiazepines, of course.

Benzos don't make everybody loopy, but you would obviously need to try them out on a couple practice tests, so it may be late in the season for that. They work great for some people on tests though. I haven't known anybody personally that used beta-blockers for test situations, but I have known people who use them for public speaking and musical performances and totally swear by them. Beta-blockers are interesting because they're not actually psychiatric drugs; they just happen to calm down the physical symptoms of anxiety, so it breaks that feedback loop of 'omg my heart is pounding, now I'm even more nervous,' etc.

[crEEp]

Just as a note to OP and/or PSA, this is way too high of a dose to start out with. Your doctor would likely recommend you start with 0.25 mg, maybe 0.5 mg. I don't know how that translates to all the other benzodiazepines, of course.

Benzos don't make everybody loopy, but you would obviously need to try them out on a couple practice tests, so it may be late in the season for that. They work great for some people on tests though. I haven't known anybody personally that used beta-blockers for test situations, but I have known people who use them for public speaking and musical performances and totally swear by them. Beta-blockers are interesting because they're not actually psychiatric drugs; they just happen to calm down the physical symptoms of anxiety, so it breaks that feedback loop of 'omg my heart is pounding, now I'm even more nervous,' etc.

I suppose it depends on the extent to which exams make you uneasy, although everything I've seemed to research suggests benzos are more for generalized anxiety or anxiety as a side effect of prescribed stimulants, etc. Inderal for acute anxiety is fairly ubiquitous; people susceptible to stage fright and even surgeons (to reduce shaky hands) have reported improvements.

[Geist13]

The two best cures for non-chronic anxiety are: Sleep and some exercise. A little rest may very well clear your head enough to focus. Also try to get some light exercise the day of the exam. Run a mile or something, it will make you focused and and release some of the extra energy that's fueling that anxiety.

Of course the anxiety may be preventing you from sleeping. In that case, get wasted at 5, be in bed by 9 and wake up at 6.

[ahduth]

xanax

[Grizz]

Use smokeless tobacco during the exam. That's what I do.

[ahduth]

Use smokeless tobacco during the exam. That's what I do.

Snuff?

[071816]

Smoke drugs before the exam.

[fathergoose]

I've found mixing some margaritas and putting them in a thermos with a straw does just the trick for me. Makes my exam-time stress float away

[FantasticMrFox]

less coffee

[NeighborGuy]

less coffee

This too. http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/caffeine.htm

[Zazelmaf]

Luckily World of Warcraft patch 4.3 came out right before finals so I am destressing through battlegrounds with my Worgen mage.

There are all kinds of new items out, a new raid, new dungeons, Darkmoon Faire. It's great! It totally makes me not even think about law school or the lack of jobs!

I might even play WoW during one of my finals... heh

[OklahomasOK]

I've been on Klonopin for a solid year now for panic disorder and I am amazed how much better I function around test time. I never really noticed me getting more tired or sleepy with it, although I would not recommend drinking grapefruit juice with it, or drinking alcohol in excess. Both make the drug have a much greater effect.

If you really have a problem with anxiety, it worked great for me. I take 0.5 mg twice a day and I can't remember the last time I had any real anxiety issues. No problems with using caffeine with it either. I think it's better than xanax because it last for about 48-60 hours, whereas Xanax is pretty short lived. T

[Knuckles]

As someone who takes a pretty stout dose of propranolol, I can vouch that it helps with anxiety (although I take it for migraines). The thing is, though, you have to watch your blood pressure pretty closely; if you start getting lightheaded, numb, or if you feel lethargic... you are feeling the light touch of death caressing your cardiovascular system.

I've found that a mix of propranolol and the inevitable adrenaline rush of exams gives me pretty scary chest pains. I don't know if the situation would be even worse if I didn't take the beta blocker, or if what I'm feeling is the cardiovascular equivalent of taking an immodium with miralax.

[AreJay711]

You all probably just need to get laid

[FUBAR]

You do not want to take a xanax before an exam if you have never taken one before. You will probably fall asleep, seriously. Talk to your doctor about propranolol (it's not a benzo).

[yoconsultinggroup]

mod edit: SPAM

[drive4showLSAT4dough]

What drugs should I take for my anxiety about not knowing which drugs to take from the DROVES of tls poasters prescribing anecdotal advice about exam doping? I'm freakin out over here, you guys

[crisgcia]

The night before every exam, I book a 60 minute massage at the Massage Envy by my house. Not only does it relax you, but it also alleviates a lot of the physical pain I've dealt with from sitting in a chair during studying. It's combination mental and physical and, by healing your physical body, you take your mind off your anxieties. Think of it as someone punching you in the arm so you'll forget about the pain in your tooth.