to feel so scared and upset for tomorrow

[chocoblue]

honestly not sure why im posting this or what im looking for, I think I just needed to get it all off my chest

I'm at university and i have the most important exam of my life (so far) tomorrow morning. I'm usually anxious before exams and I dont do well with pressure but this is much worse than usual because of how much is riding on this. I have studied, prepared and put in as much effort and work as I could have, but none of its stuck in my head and I dont know anything and its all been a waste of time. I was quizzing myself tonight and knew absolutely nothing. Im so scared im going to fail and let down everyone- I feel like such a failure at everything I do and I feel like I never do anything right, ever. I've been upset and stressed all day thinking about letting everyone down if I fail and how I will ruin everything if I mess it up. I know logically I can resit it and the world won't come crashing down, but it feels like it will in my head. I've always got A* results and everyone just expects it and it feels like so much pressure

I didnt want to talk to my friends about it because they're all anxious too and I didnt want to make it worse, and I couldn't call my parents about it either because if I get worried, they get worried, and before we know it we're both even more worried! Its been building up for weeks and ive bottled it all up and now it feels like my head is going to explode with the stress of it all

I no nobody on here can sit the exam for me or help so I dont know why i've posted this.. I just needed to get it all out, I can't sleep because the nerves for tomorrow are driving me crazy. if anyone has any advice on how to stop being so nervous or how to cope with nerves it would be really appreciated x

Oh darling. Just BREATHE. Slow down. It will be ok, however you do, will be ok. You are good enough with or without this qualification.

Your worst case scenario is a re-sit, it's really no biggie! Not everyone can be everything all the time! Take a deep breath, you probably know more than you think!

Oh lovey.
Take a deep breath.
You say you done as much work as you can, well done for that!!

Our brains can be bastards for making us feel stupid when we are stressed. The best thing you can do now, is completely take the focus off the exam, distract it with something relaxing that will help you wind down, and get a good night's sleep and hopefully it will all come to the forefront of your mind tomorrow.

I bet you'll do better than you think right now. This worry about it is only because it matters so much to you. Worst case scenario, you can do a resit. Loved ones might be surprised but they'll still love you. Allow your yourself to rest tonight and remember you have lots of value outside of these exams. Sleep well, wake up and eat if nothing else, and then go smash it. This time tomorrow it will be done! Come back and tell us how it went.

All you can do is your best. You'll live regardless of outcome.

Good luck

Oh sweetheart, you've done all you can, now just breathe. Could you try a meditation app to help calm your nerves tonight? Whatever happens, you should be proud of yourself. I'm sure that you will be fine but even if you're not, it really, really isn't the end of the world. What will be, will be...Get a relaxation app or read something funny to take your mind off it. X

Having studied for so long, regardless of the revision, you will have absorbed an enormous amount of information. Breathe deeply, try to stay calm, and read the questions. And then read them again, and then breathe...
You will be amazed how much "suddenly" comes back. It's how we explain the fact that people who are older than you (I'm in my 50s!) can answer very obscure questions in quizzes.
Whatever happens, you did your very best. There will be many doors to open in your future, you will find the right path and it will be alright in the end. Good luck x

Best of luck for tomorrow. Whatever happens you'll be ok. Fingers crossed though that it goes well.

You've studied and prepared for the exam, you have done what you can.
Trust your brain to remember tomorrow what you need to.
Read the questions twice, take your time to understand them.

For tonight I'd set out your clothes for the morning, and try to rest.
Smell something nice and lie down.

For tomorrow repeat short phrases to ground you.
I can do this.
I have prepared.
I can get through this exam.

If you feel panicked focus on something like a ring you're wearing or the cuff of your jumper or your pen, just the feel of it.
For future exams look at NLP techniques.

Regarding your parents, they want you to pass because they love you, but if you don't pass they will still love you. Don't confuse their strong desire for you to do well as anything other than they just want the best for you in life, they'd hate to think you felt pressured.

Focus on visualising the exam with everything going perfectly. I know it sounds a bit woo but I do find it helps. Try to imagine as a movie in your head.

As soon as you start the exam you will feel better and adrenaline will take over.
you can’t cram any more now. Sleep, eat, rest and be kind to yourself.

You will be ok, you’re putting an awful lot of pressure on yourself. When the exams are over it might be worth having some therapy about managing the anxiety - sounds like might be rooted in your parents/childhood if you feel like if you told them you were worried they would just get worried, that sounds like a lot of pressure on your shoulders to then manage. Please be kind to yourself

Well done for doing as much as you could have. Tbh most people won't have so you're winning already!

You know that the worst case scenario is no biggie. There really is no problem that can't be overcome.

I wish you the best of luck. I feel like you've got this, although I know when I was in your shoes those words wouldn't have helped even though they turned out to be true🙄🤔

This isn't that unusual & it sounds like you have got to the point of information overload and nothing will come to you. It's a combination of a lot of study and stress....it will come back to you...trust me.

What you really need is sleep so you are fresh doing you exam. Put on some really relaxing much, with no words, the sort of stuff they play in beauty salons and spas.

It will sooth you to sleep.
Also, don't panic if you don't remember everything the minute you read the exam paper. Give it about 15 minutes and it will start flooding back if you've put in all the effort.

Best of luck.

Reminds me of an exam I had in university. It was a crazy hard and weirdly unique math class. Started off as standing room only and slowly dwindled over time to 12 in the class. Nobody could help me because it was an odd class to begin with and my professor only taught that one class so even if I found someone who had taken the class, it didn’t help because my professor taught it completely different right down to using a unique textbook. I am not naturally good with math, I barely understood what the professor was talking about 80% of the time.

Anyway, go walking into the final, as I’m walking I’m reaching for my calculator, and realize I left it at home. Quiet hallway, just me and my roommate and I cursed louder and more creatively than I ever had. Luckily she had one on her and lent it to me. As I walked into class everyone was staring at me and my professor asked if everything was ok. Hmmm… I guess they heard my drunken sailor impression about 2 minutes earlier.

I spent most of my time in the exam trying to figure out how to use her calculator I did the best I could under the circumstances and got on with it.

I have no idea what I got on that exam as a score, but it was enough to get pass the class and get credit. I was more proud of that grade than just about any other I got. I must have gotten enough out of studying and in class to make a difference.

Step away from all of it, do something enjoyable, eat well, get a good night’s sleep and go in fresh tomorrow. (And don’t forget your calculator😉)

I spent a lot of my life afraid of doing things because I was scared I would fail, until I did. And it was ok. On the list of all the terrible things that could have happened it turned out to be quite far down the list. I don’t regret that failure now, I am happy I ended up on a different course, plus it made me much less fearful.

Oh Bless You, we can all relate in some way or another. On the morning of the exam i wouldn't try and cram anymore facts in. Trust that they are all there in your head. Honestly, as crazy as it sounds, go for a walk, breathe in the fresh air, and trust in your abilities completely. I have every faith that it will come to you as you need the information. My thoughts and positivity will be with you x

Accept the worst, write it off now and then try and do something to improve upon that. No failed exam leaves you in a totally unrecoverable position - it's not the end of the world - worry and stress does terrible things to people - there's nothing wrong, weak or defective about you - it does affect some more than others - if you can - go in there fighting - try and keep any negative thoughts out of your head. You might be tired and dreading it in the morning - but have a quick look at something that might be useful - it's not life or death. Confidence escapes the best of us at times. As they say the measure of a person is not how many times they get knocked down - it's by how many times they get up again. My hero Steve Prefontaine - a runner - used to say - (OK it's a slight misquote) - don't let fear make a coward of you.

Oh sweetheart it’s going to be ok.
Youre mind is going blank because you are so stressed.
So, take note of the great advice above, sort your clothes out and anything else you’ll need, set your alarm, then find some relaxing music, breathe in for count of 4 hold for count of six and breathe out for count of four.
You will soon feel relaxed and fall asleep.
Tomorrow read the questions through twice and breathe, stay calm, you will have retained most if not all of the information you need.
We will all be thinking of you and you will be fine.

Your anxious brain is playing tricks on you! Tell it to shut the fuck up! You are a diligent and hard working student and you are going to walk into that exam room, open that paper and everything you’ve learned is going to flood back into your brain.

And if it doesn’t, you can resit. No biggie 😘

Good luck for tomorrow.💐💐💐

Good luck with your exam! Definitely been in your shoes before but stress can mess up your brain, especially when tired. Go to sleep if you haven't already, get a bit more revision done tomorrow if you have time, and do your best!

You’re not alone, I remember those feelings well!

Try to put it into perspective, it’s not a life or death situation. Worse case scenario, you fail and resit. And that’s fine, lots and lots of people resit exams and go on to get really good degrees. Whatever happens, in a few years, you’ll wonder why you were ever worried about this exam (if you even remember it at all).

Plan something nice for after your test. Whatever the result, you deserve to celebrate working hard and facing your fears.

Good luck OP, you’re going to be fine

@chocoblue THIS!
I still remember stuff from exams yonks ago, and was able to quote parts of a poem I Studied on the first day of my A level class the other week..
You will have taken in lots of info that you can regurgitate on the exam paper.
Best Wishes, and Breathe :) 🧘‍♀️