Feeling anxious about going to school and becoming unexpectedly tense when it's time to attend, what should one do?

Hello!

From your questions, I understand that you feel nervous and scared as soon as school starts, and you also have some physical reactions such as trembling involuntarily. You really want to improve your current state, and I understand your distress. But you can do it!

I see you're getting ready for the entrance exam! I'm sure you'll do great, but I wanted to check in about your concerns. It seems like you've been feeling a bit nervous lately, and I'm here to help! I'm wondering how long you've been feeling this way. Is there a link between your school anxiety and the upcoming exam?

First, let's dive right in and tackle that inexplicable sense of fear head-on! By turning it into a clearer awareness, we can then deal with and digest it more specifically.

Once you've taken the time to understand the thoughts behind your fear, you'll be amazed at how simple it is to overcome! The fear of school often stems from the pressure of the middle school entrance exam. But there's no need to worry, because you can conquer that pressure and turn those fears into positive outcomes! If you do not do well on the exam, there are still plenty of other options for you. You can still attend the ideal high school, and you'll still have the chance to prove yourself to your parents and teachers. And who knows, you might even find that your future is brighter than you ever imagined!

Once you've taken the time to understand the thoughts behind your fear, you'll be amazed at how simple it is to overcome the fear of school! All that pressure from the middle school entrance exam? It's nothing more than a distant memory. You'll be entering the ideal high school in no time, and your parents and teachers will be proud of you. The future is bright, and you're going to love every minute of it!

Then, after understanding the possible causes of your nervousness and fear, we can have some self-adjustment directions and plans for "how to reduce anxiety and fear of exams and how to deal with exams more efficiently."

I've got some great suggestions for you!

1. Make a short list of things you can accomplish every day!

Make a list of small learning plans that you can complete within your daily capabilities. This is a great way to focus your attention on the positive! It helps you build confidence in your learning abilities and gives you a sense of control over the exam.

2. Try mindfulness meditation exercises and feel the difference!

You'll love these specially selected meditation audios! "Student Stress Relief Meditation" and "Relieving Anxiety" are great to listen to before bed and when you wake up. Mindfulness exercises are a fantastic way to deal with repressed emotions in your daily life. When you start to relax and identify and sort them out, you'll feel in control of your thoughts and be able to change them, which will relieve your stress!

3. Seeking the experience and help of trusted friends and elders is a great idea!

There are so many people around you who can help you! There are friends you trust and older people who have experience with major exams. You can pour out your confusion and anxiety to them and seek all their help and advice. Being guided by someone with experience can effectively boost your confidence and ease your tension!

Wishing you all the best!

Dear questioner,

I am Sunshine, and I am grateful for our encounter. Give you a hug!

From the title of your post, I can tell that you are self-aware and that you are "worried and afraid" — "I'm afraid to go to school. Whenever it's time to go to school, I get inexplicably nervous. What should I do?" That "fear of going to school" is here to "give us a heads-up"!

We must ask ourselves: what is fear trying to tell us? What do students fear will happen when it's time to go to school?

We must ask ourselves: is there someone, something, or pressure at school that makes us feel afraid? Or is it our family members who make classmates feel pressured, afraid, or scared, and dare not speak out?

Students can give "fear" a different name, for example, "fear." They can distinguish between "fear" and themselves as two different "parts/things." They can invite "fear" out and see what it is here to "play" with us. Students can work with the teacher to use our "magic" to chase away "fear."

We can play a few tricks with fear.

The arrival of this "fear" must serve as a reminder that we can stop and take a good look back. When did "fear" come to your classmates? Let's discuss it together!

Let's start by organizing the content of the student's text and then interpret and analyze it.

I get nervous and scared when it's time to go to school. I even have nightmares about school.

My classmates get nervous and scared whenever school starts. They even have nightmares about school.

You can allow yourself to feel nervous or scared. This is an instinctive reaction that we can all have. However, we must pay attention to the "nightmares" of our "fearful" school. Tell your "nightmares" to someone you trust, or draw them out and show them to someone you trust. We can work together to find out what makes classmates nervous or scared. Then, we can find a way to get rid of the "fear" and return to the past when we were "not afraid of anything." What do you think, classmate?

The "nightmares" about school that classmates have are actually here to help us solve our "fear." They hide the suppressed/unspoken true "dreams" in the hearts of classmates. "Dreams" represent the yearnings in classmates' hearts and are a reminder that it's time to overcome the psychological "fear." You must seize the message brought by the "nightmares" and find a way to deal with it. That is the "antidote" for classmates.

In severe cases, the body shakes all the time. I can only force myself to suppress the fear. This is the only way I can attend classes normally at school. The exam is approaching, and if this continues, I'm afraid it will affect my mentality during the exam. I need help!

When we feel nervous or scared, our body trembles as a reaction to the psychological tension. This is because the body and mind are an integrated whole, and anyone who feels nervous or scared will behave this way.

The classmate said, "I can only force myself to suppress my fear, and only in this way can I attend classes normally at school." So, who is "forcing" the classmate to go to school? The classmate feels uncomfortable, but they still insist on going to class with "fear." It's too hard on yourself. We can get rid of that "fear" and give it a try. Just say/draw/...it out. Let's get rid of "fear" together so that we can give the classmate back the peace of mind without "fear."

— The classmate said, "The middle school entrance exam is coming up soon. Who is asking classmates to get good grades on the exam? / Where is the exam going?"

Or what?

You will not be affected by the exam if you do not feel nervous or scared. Find a teacher, classmate, or someone you can talk to, or a parent, and work together to find and get rid of the fear. There is strength in numbers, and we can say goodbye to the fear!

You've got this!

You're right to come to the Yi Xinli platform for help. It shows you're self-aware and want to get rid of your fear. You're already on the path to change. You just need a little time and the right approach.

[1] Accept your "nervousness/fear" and tell others about your "scares/nightmares" (either verbally or by drawing them). Find a trusted teacher or parent at school to express your true feelings and thoughts.

[2] When you feel "nervous/scared" or "shaky," take a few deep breaths. Then, believe that you can find a way to cope. Read a book like "Managing Anxiety," "Hello, Anxiety," or "Dialogue with the Child Within." These books will show you how to save yourself.

[3] In fact, a moderate amount of anxiety can generate motivation to learn. The key is to manage our "nervousness/fear" within a moderate range. In this way, after reading and studying, breathing and relaxing, exercising, and finding someone to talk to, we can dance with "anxiety/fear." I believe that a good attitude determines good results (a book worth reading). If necessary, before the entrance exam, ask your parents to provide psychological counseling together. You will definitely realize your dream. Good luck!

The above is my understanding and response to the questions of my classmates. I am confident that my guidance will be positive and helpful. I pray that my classmates will get what they want, as expected!

I am certain that you will succeed.

I am a person of one heart, the sun, the world, and I love you.

Hello, and it's a pleasure to meet you!

Before I get into my response, I just want to give you a warm hug from afar. I noticed some of the things you mentioned at the start of your description, like feeling nervous and scared as soon as school starts, and even having nightmares about school. In some cases, your body shakes, and you have to force yourself to suppress your fear just to go to school. You're worried that if this keeps up, it'll affect your performance in exams.

—You know, when I put the state you mentioned in your description into this paragraph, I really admired your courage. You're very aware of your physical and mental state, which takes a lot of strength and insight to achieve.

Let's work through this together and think about the situation.

You mentioned that you get nervous and scared whenever school starts and that you even have nightmares about school. Let's turn this into two questions:

a. What's the root cause of your nervousness and fear whenever school starts? Think of it as a trigger in your mind. You need to find the trigger that causes your nervousness and fear whenever school starts to gain control of your body and mind.

b. What exactly is the content of the "dreams about school"? You can actually try recording it with pen and paper. You can also record your feelings when you experience those dreams. Once you've written it down, if you feel it's okay, keep it. If you still feel bad, just crumple up the paper with the record on it and throw it away.

Secondly, you mentioned that "when I'm really stressed, my body shakes uncontrollably, and I can only force myself to suppress my fear so that I can attend class normally." I want to share with you a psychological term called "stress response." There can be many factors that cause physical trembling. To relieve the trembling, we need to first understand whether it is physiological or psychological. You know that you feel inexplicably nervous and scared when school starts. From your description, I can also feel that this has indeed affected your normal studies and life. If you really feel that you need it, you can try to seek professional help from a counselor or psychotherapist. What I can share with you in this regard is that it is normal for us to experience hardships and difficulties in life. Sometimes, it is necessary to have someone to walk with you for a while, and it is allowed to give more understanding and strength. Therefore, asking for help when you really need it is not a sign of weakness, but a more responsible way to support the more abundant and wonderful possibilities in your life.

Ultimately, it's up to you whether you step out of seeking professional help. I firmly believe that whatever you decide will be the right one for you.

I'd like to suggest a book for you to read: "Inner Growth: Four Thinking Habits for Mental Maturity" by Tama Jonczyk (USA). I hope you find it useful and that it helps you to develop your inner strength!

That's my take on it. I hope it'll give you some ideas on how to get out of your current situation.

Take care of yourself.