Exam season is fast approaching and considering GCSEs alone, students are having to take on average between 18-25 exam papers, so it’s no surprise that anxiety is an issue for many.
Some students are able to handle this kind of pressure, but most feel it to a greater or lesser degree and the way that exam stress comes out will differ from person to person. For some there will be gastric upsets as the anxiety is felt in the stomach, while for others there might be emotional outbursts or migraines.
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that recognises the individuality of the client and the prescription reflects that individuality through the use of different homeopathic remedies. I would like to introduce a few key remedies which have shown to be useful in the helping alleviate exam stress.
Gelsemium
The person who would benefit from this remedy is characteristically very apprehensive when they are faced with exams or new situations, which they might see as being ordeals.
When a challenge is on the horizon, the Gelsemium person will suffer a kind of weakness – even a feeling of paralysis – on all levels – their mind will go blank and they’ll feel completely unable to focus on the task at hand, while physically they may start to tremble, feel dizzy or sleepy and heavy.
The remedy works to address these symptoms and better enable the person to go forwards and face the challenge before them.
Lycopodium
It’s hard to describe in a few lines just how valuable Lycopodium is to so many people. It suits people who suffer from confidence issues. These issues may be covered by a show of bravado but inside the feelings are anything but brave. Exam nerves may be compensated for by very irritable or even abusive behaviour - especially at home. Physically, anticipatory anxiety may again be felt in the abdomen with pain, bloating and wind.
Lycopodium is a fabulous homeopathic remedy and I couldn’t run my practice without it. We’ll look at other remedies next week, but in the meantime, if you have any queries, please get in touch.
