pt jitters Forum

[Shasta McNasty]

I recently took my first timed pt that I have yet to score, but during the test I felt extremely anxious due to the timed conditions and made numerous careless mistakes. Can someone please tell me that this habit eventually fades with subsequent pts. What steps can also be done to mitigate this extreme nervousness.

[cbbinnyc]

I recently took my first timed pt that I have yet to score, but during the test I felt extremely anxious due to the timed conditions and made numerous careless mistakes. Can someone please tell me that this habit eventually fades with subsequent pts. What steps can also be done to mitigate this extreme nervousness.

It should fade once you've taken a bunch. Whether or not it does, try some form of meditation before you PT (and to do before the real deal). I'm dead serious. If you're not into that, working out or some other physical activity also often helps to increase focus and lessen anxiety.

[basedvulpes]

Post removed.

[Blueprint Mithun]

I recently took my first timed pt that I have yet to score, but during the test I felt extremely anxious due to the timed conditions and made numerous careless mistakes. Can someone please tell me that this habit eventually fades with subsequent pts. What steps can also be done to mitigate this extreme nervousness.

Test anxiety is something everyone struggles with, but to wildly different degrees. It will get better as you do more and more PTs, but there are a few things you can do to actively deal with it. For one, make sure you're eating and sleeping well, and try to get some regular exercise if you don't already. Keeping physically healthy can help combat anxiety a lot.

It's also good to learn some basic meditation breathing techniques. You can pull these out during the test if it ever feels like the pressure is too much for you to concentrate on the material. Focus on taking deep breaths. Make sure you can feel the air in your stomach, so that it's moving through your whole diaphragm. Inhale slowly and fully, hold your breath for a few seconds, then exhale slowly. You can follow a ratio between these three stages. For example, a 2:3:2 ratio would have you inhale for 2 seconds, retain for 3, and exhale for 2. Focus on counting, and that should help take your mind off whatever's stressing you. You can start doubling the number up to 4:6:4 and so on once you feel comfortable. If you spend 10 or 15 minutes practicing this per day, you'll get better at it, and it will work faster and be more relaxing.

That concludes my Blueprint-certified yoga lesson. lolz.

[LitigatingLiar]

Take a few deep breaths before you start, to calm you down. During the test if you freak out because you don't understand a question do the same. When you get the five minute warning and you realize you're not where you should be, do the same. It does help.