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Original poster

Why do I keep dreaming about failing my Finals?

54 replies

Unfucked · 25/02/2021 17:59

Sat my Finals over 20 years ago, got a low 2:1 but already had a graduate milk round job lined up so not too disappointed. I’m still ticking along fairly happily in that career, still happily married to my uni boyfriend, life was good before Covid and hopefully will be again.

Yet I have begun having a recurring nightmare at least once a month that I have failed my Finals, or have mixed up the exam timetable, or missed the bus to the exams. Always wake up heart racing, drenched in sweat, and then an overwhelming sense of relief.

What is my psyche trying to tell me please?

OP posts:
Knittingnanny · 25/02/2021 23:08

Hopefully my dream doesn’t start recurring again and I’m not really entitled to my teachers pension!

OverByYer · 25/02/2021 23:12

This is my anxiety dream. Whenever I have stress in my life I have the same dream that I haven’t revised for my finals and I’m scrabbling around trying to cram last minute, then I get in the room and I’ve revised the wrong topic. Not far off the reality in fairness!

OverByYer · 25/02/2021 23:15

Interesting to know I’m not alone.
I definitely have imposter syndrome and massively lack confidence in my abilities

GCAcademic · 25/02/2021 23:20

A Level Chemistry, 1993 for me.

Apparentlystillchilled · 25/02/2021 23:33

Leaving Cert Chemistry dream here (A level equiv). It's Easter just before my exams and I don't know anything, even the point of the periodic table. I had the dream so many times that I could talk myself down in my dream "it doesn't matter if you fail, you're only 18, it doesn't matter if you go to uni at 19" etc.

I was rubbish at chemistry tbf. But did extra lessons and got a B. And that was in 1994. Only happens when I'm super stressed.

MarshaBradyo · 25/02/2021 23:35

Mine is that I have to go back to school or university now because I didn’t get all the subjects I needed, usually maths

JanFebAnyMonth · 25/02/2021 23:39

I used to dream I was at university doing some kind of extra year and/or returning after having a baby, with the baby, wondering how I was going to catch up with studies and look after the child - let alone house it n my college room.

Very very stressful!

MotherOfCrocodiles · 25/02/2021 23:43

I think it's something to do with uncertainty.

Like, back when you were in school life was timetabled and it was clear what you were working towards.

Now as an adult it is usually less clear whether you are going in the right direction. Could you have lost your way and be wasting your time in a job/ relationship/ lockdown?

To me that's what the bit where you have forgotten to attend classes is about. It represents the loss of that certainty that you are working towards a goal.

Lemoncurd · 26/02/2021 00:14

Mid 40's and last night dreamt that I didn't know what school books I needed to take to school. Often have that one, or can't find any intact school tights/uniform that fits etc
The feelings of panic, thinking I'm going to miss the bus/ be late are so real!

mrsbyers · 26/02/2021 00:14

I often have these dreams , missing course work ,
not having a timetable , failing exams etc - all really common anxiety dreams

DramaAlpaca · 26/02/2021 00:50

My recurring anxiety dream involves my A levels. I took them in 1982!

TheUnexpectedPickle · 26/02/2021 01:04

I have this!!
I'm at college- usually my actual college but with a weird layout but occasionally I'm at school doing GCSEs. My old friends are there too. I'm usually running late and struggling to get there. I've always not done some important assignments or not been to the class in question for ages. But I'm still current me- 34 year old qualified paramedic me who did A Levels in 2005 and a Media based degree after that and has worked for the NHS in various guises for the last 10 years.

In the dreams I keep saying to people "I don't really know why I'm doing this, I have a full time job, I'm a paramedic, I don't really need these A Levels"

I always wake up feeling really stressed. Recently I did have a bit of a breakthrough- I was in one of the lessons where I don't know anything and I was suddenly like " Fuck this! I don't need to be here!" And left. I woke up and immediately poked DP and said "I just quit college!!!" And he high fived me (which I guess means I talk about said dreams too much!!)

katy1213 · 26/02/2021 01:16

I read somewhere that this is the most common recurring dream for professional women.
I've never heard of men having it though!
(Nearly 50 years ago here! Post-traumatic stress for winging it with no revision????)

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 26/02/2021 01:16

I have this about my finals, that I sat in 1991. I did well too, no idea why I'm still stressing about it! Sometimes not only am I completely unprepared for the exam, but I'm semi naked too, which is fun!

GingerScallop · 26/02/2021 01:25

I have this too. Also 20 years on. In the dream, it's finals, am not ready, am panicked, am not attending vlasses. Dream is often when am anxious about deadline. At some point it got so bad I thought I hadn't written my final year exam. I had to ask a friend!

GingerScallop · 26/02/2021 01:30

Just to add, am introverted and suffer from imposter syndrome that has paralysed my career. Always feel/know I could do better. Also am neither in my the field I had passion for since I was 7 (neurosurgery) not what I studied (engineering) nor am I in a well paid or influential position ( been self employed for 10 years) so my sense of being a failure is very very high

EBearhug · 26/02/2021 01:53

I don't think I've ever had an exam dream, but I don't seem to have given up exams - the last was 3 weeks ago, which was a resit of one I failed in November. I do have anxiety dreams, though - they're either about water, dark and deep and churning, or about being chased by lots of people (which can then also involve water.)

Of course, it all assumes I get to sleep to be able to dream...

SillyOldMummy · 26/02/2021 04:22

I have this, in my version of the recurring dream I get a letter saying "as you know, your Degree is due to expire on (date) so you will need to return to uni to resit your Finals on (date)". The date being in a few days time, so I rush back and have a reunion with all my old uni pals who, obviously, knew all about resitting Finals so are bragging about have revised ahead of time and are just partying. Meanwhile I'm pretending that I knew all about it, trying to borrow notes, find accommodation (which, of course, always is a disaster). In the dream I never even get into the Exam room, it's just all about the stress of preparation!

Aside from occasional nightmares about my kids, this dream is by far the most horrible recurring dream I've ever had, I wake up dazed and panicky.

It's absolutely about Impostor Syndrome, stress and anxiety at work.

CriticalWoman · 26/02/2021 06:52

I graduated over 30 years ago and have a similar dream - it's always March in the dream and I've done nothing to learn one particular module.
I also dream I'm in a holiday cottage with family. We're supposed to be leaving and are rushing round trying to get it in a fit state for the next guests, all in very limited time.

Misbeehived · 26/02/2021 06:59

GCSE physics, all of my IB, degree - have these often. Stressed until lunchtime when I realise I passed all my exams (with flying colours!) and I don’t have any others to prep for.

Just anxiety

kitschplease · 26/02/2021 07:06

Yes to misplaced baby dream and needing to go to my French degree oral without having prepared for it!

Insert1x20p · 26/02/2021 07:08

My dad has this about his undergrad exams - dreams the exams are next week and he hasn't been to any lectures - he's 75 and has a doctorate. He's now had the dream so often he can actually make himself tell himself that he's dreaming and wake up

tinierclanger · 26/02/2021 07:12

@TheUnexpectedPickle mine is very similar to that! I used to have the version where I didn’t have a degree, and was going to fail the finals. But now I have this one where I have my current qualifications, but for some reason I decided to do another degree, didn’t attend any of the course and am about to fail. So even in the dream I’m telling myself it doesn’t matter that much, but I’m also really disappointed in myself and thinking “what a waste”...

AwkwardSquad · 26/02/2021 07:18

I have this form of anxiety dream every now and then (along with others including the one about forgetting or being prevented from collecting a child from school) - they’re bloody awful but oh the blessed relief when you wake up and realise that it was just a dream, and you’ve no exams to sit! Almost makes them worth it just for that feeling.

AwkwardSquad · 26/02/2021 07:23

My exam anxiety dream often has the additional twist that work has paid for me to do the course and I’m flunking spectacularly. Doesn’t take a genius to work out that it’s about imposter syndrome / fear of failure!

In real life, work did pay for me to do a professional qualification (many years ago now) and I had some blips with studying but ended up passing with flying colours, even with awards for best exam performance and so on. But my dreaming brain doesn’t remember that, oh no. Of course it doesn’t.