How do I overcome math anxiety? I have an exam tomorrow morning and I am very stressed over it. Some of the stuff I totally understand, but with other stuff I look at the problem, my mind goes blank, and I feel so lost.
I have gone to great lengths to get help. I spend a lot of my extra time in the math center, where tutors are available, I ask questions in class about concepts I don’t understand, I even spent $35 on the solutions book which has the problems worked out! I go to class every single day, and do all the homework assigned. During lectures and when it is explained to me, it makes perfect sense, but when faced with a real problem with actual numbers I blank out and panic.
This is not hard stuff, it’s intemediate algebra. Many of my mistakes come from copying the problems down wrong (writing a 7 instead of a 9, or leaving out an exponent or negative sign), or very basic math mistakes (10-9 and I get 7), stuff like that. Or when I am faced with a problem that is in a slightly different form than the examples in the book or in lectures, I just don’t know where to start. Is there such a thing as math dyslexia? On my first exam I didn’t do too badly, 89/100, but I felt I had a much better grasp on that material.
Has anyone sucessfully overcome math anxiety and become good at math? Any suggestions? My major is going to require many more math classes, and I’m stressed that I won’t even make it through this class.
well, if its any consolation, I totally know what you mean and I’m sure there’ll be other people who can recognise exactly those same feelings. Basically, you’re not alone
I think right now, you need to concentrate on ways of handling your immediate anxiety - that will get you through the test. Expect to feel anxious, and however uncomfortable it feels (and it will do) try and endure it. How long is the test? If it’s an hour, break it down into manageable chunks of time: “ok, I got through the first 10 minutes; I got through the next 10 minutes; it’s nearly over!”
When you get to your desk, take a few minutes beforehand to read through the paper. Doing so will allow you to calm your nerves a little bit: if you see a question you know you can’t answer, don’t worry about it. If they all seem like you can’t answer any of them - again, try not to worry, that could be your anxiety kicking in. Start the exam, and answer the questions that you can. Show all your working out too. If, in the worse case scenario, you can’t do it at all (and again, been there, done that - then sit through the exam, and plan what you can say to your teacher to get the help you need.
If you feel yourself starting to go into a panic meltdown during the test, try and distract yourself, even if only for a few minutes. Your anxiety will start to reduce and you will be able to put your focus onto the questions. Think of a “wasp” - which stands for: wait, and slowly proceed - that’s what you need to do in your test. Breathe properly from your diaphragm, not high in your chest. Slower breathing calms you down.
I certainly think that you are working very hard to overcome this, but, I think that your teachers could give you some more help. They might not even realise you have a problem, or the level of anxiety it’s causing you. Yes, there certainly are learning disabilities that relate specifically to maths, however, getting a proper diagnosis, and getting teachers to recognise your problem, is quite difficult, moreso if you happen to be a high achieving student in the rest of your classes. From my own experience, my teachers could not (would not?) accept the fact that an A+ student couldn’t deal with anything above basic math - let alone the rigours of algebra
you get into an anxiety spiral: you feel anxious, so you don’t think as clearly as you would, then you try and hurry and copy things down incorrectly. So, “wasp” - do it more slowly, see if that helps. During the test, try not to think of the time restraint and go slowly. It’s better to get all 10 questions correct, rather than “complete” 20 questions and get 2 right.
heh. Again, I hear you on the “blank brain what the hell is this?!” thinking. And, believe me, 89/100 is not a shabby score at all! Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Again, there are a range of learning disabilities relating to maths function.
Can maths anxiety be overcome? Hrmm. Yes. Will you go onto to do a PHD in applied maths? Who can say. I think the anxiety becomes more manageable, yes. Can you become “good” at it? I think it’s better to know your limitations. Even with all the practise, hard work and tears of frutstration, if you can’t “get it” then you just can’t - it’s not about being lazy; very far from it. Did a “restricted” ability to do math, get in the way of my careers? No: it’s possible to function exceedingly well in other areas. For example, I have an honours degree (admittedly in English Literature & Linguistics ;)); it is possible to be highly analytical & logical without having to do or be good at “maths.” People have said to me: “ugh, computers? You need maths for that, right?” Not always, depends on what you want to do
What is your major? See how you go in this test; talk in depth to your teachers about this problem, and then, once you know what you’re dealing with, you can figure out (pardon the pun) what to do with the future.
I teach at a non-traditional high school, and we see lots of students with math anxiety. We even exempt some kids from math classes because they become so anxious they stop coming to school. These kids are NOT dumb or neurotic; a clash of how they learn and how they were taught is most often responsible.
The odds are pretty good that someone who taught you math made you feel anxious and inadequate. It may do you some good to think back and figure out who that person was and tell them to get out of your head.
(I am an artist and so is my father, I had a block with drawing for years because he tried to teach me.)
In the meantime, I’d take a sports therapy approach. Coaches tell athletes that they have the ability to do what they are attempting they were born with it. Look at that test and while you are working on it, pretend that you have traveled back in time. You already took that test, you did well on it. Now you go through the motions of doing it again.
I hope that helps, and remember you are doing everything possible to beat this. You will.
Thanks for the advice odd-socks and altiod. I got a B on the test, and I’m not too happy about that. 90% of the problems I got wrong were sign mistakes. I even checked the problems over, and I missed the sign screw ups.
I understand all the concepts, but something is still wrong when I get 3 instead of -3. I may have rushed the test, I was happy when I recognized all the problems and knew how to solve them. After the test I walked out very confident I had done well. That is why I am so disappointed with a B.
My major is geology, and I really don’t want to change that. I am doing very well in my geology and science classes, and I know I’ll need to become better at math. I do have a mental barrier, I was always a reading/English person and that is where I think the problem comes from. I could read at a young age, and when I started elementary school I was an oddball because I could read, so the reading English classes were always a bigger part of my schooling than math.
Unfortunately, these are “rookie mistakes.” The only way to rid these errors from your work is to be more careful. Don’t rush through the problem.
Contrary to your claim of grasping concepts, it sounds like you do not truly conceptualize. If you understand ideas, you should be able to apply them (easier said than done, I know). Look for key words/phrases. Phrases like “what is the most” often utilizes maximums and minimum points.
I used to make many careless mistakes in my math, too. To be honest, Algebra is hands down the hardest math to do while in the moment. In retrospect, of course, it’s a cake walk. Don’t feel too bad because everyone struggles with algebra as it emphasizes methodical thinking and concepts. I would have suggested going to math centers, tutors, and asking questions to your teacher… .
Can you be more specific as to what you’re struggling with in algebra? What chapter of study, what step in solving, etc.
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