As exam season begins, mental health experts at Priory have shared seven key signs that exam stress is out of control and guidance on how to cope.
“May is a particularly demanding time for young people, with exam season placing significant pressure on mental wellbeing,” explained Dr Josephine Neale, a Priory consultant psychiatrist specialising in child and adolescent mental health.
“The majority of young people will be experiencing some level of exam anxiety, ranging from primary school pupils facing SATs, to students preparing for GCSEs, A Levels or university exams.
“For some, especially those with any pre-existing mental health difficulties, this anxiety can be overwhelming. This may be seen as mood changes, heightened emotional sensitivity, and behavioural changes such as excessive study or complete avoidance.
“Difficulties with concentration, physical symptoms like headaches or stomach pain, and sleep disturbances are also common.”
Dr Neale advises parents to be particularly supportive and present for young people at this time.
“I’d urge parents to remain attentive to how young people are coping in the run up to exams,” she said. “Remind them it's normal to experience anxiety before an important event, and that it will pass.
“Encouraging calm, rational thinking, maintaining healthy routines around food, physical activity and sleep, and setting boundaries around screen time, especially at night, can all help ease the pressure.
“Professional mental health support is available where anxiety becomes persistent or more severe, and early intervention can make a significant difference.”
Paula Bosha, clinical lead for Priory, who helped develop Priory's new exam stress workshop therapy programme, shared seven key signs to look out for.
Signs your teen's exam stress is out of control:
- Increased anxiety – “Presenting with a lot of worrying about exams, feeling overwhelmed, panicky and stressed,” says Bosha: “Struggling to cope with the demands of exam preparation and feeling as if they cannot manage.”
- Lack of motivation and enthusiasm – “Difficulty in starting or continuing tasks, and a sense of feeling overwhelmed or uninterested in things that were once enjoyable.”
- Avoidance behaviour – “Teens might avoid doing any revision, procrastinate or refuse to engage in any exam preparations and miss school.”
- Negative thoughts and self-criticism: “Feeling like a failure, doubting their abilities, or having negative self-talk and catastrophizing.”
- Difficulty concentrating and memory problems – “Teens might struggle to focus on tasks, even those they usually find easy, experience memory lapses or difficulty recalling information.”
- Physiological changes: “Increased heart rate, sweating, racing heartbeat, shortness of breath. Experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach aches.”
- Engaging in unhealthy coping mechanisms: “Resorting to unhealthy behaviours such as self-harm, substance abuse, or excessive eating.”
Bosha has shared seven key pieces of guidance for parents to help them support children to reduce this stress during exam season:
- Create a supportive environment: “Encourage open communication, allowing your child to express their concerns and feelings about exams. Be a good listener and offer reassurance,” said Bosha.
- Establish a study routine: “Help your child organise their time with a balanced study schedule. Break down tasks into manageable chunks and allow for regular breaks.”
- Promote healthy habits: “Ensure your child is getting enough sleep, eating well, and staying physically active. A healthy body helps support a clear mind.”
- Offer emotional support: “Be empathetic to your child's feelings and validate their stress. Sometimes, simply offering words of encouragement can make a big difference.”
- Encourage stress-relief activities: “Suggest activities that can help your child unwind, like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or light physical activity such as walking or stretching.”
- Limit pressure: “While it is important to encourage your child to do their best, avoid placing excessive pressure on them. Let them know that their best effort is all that is needed.”
- Recognise if they are really struggling: “If your child is facing significant challenges, they may require extra support. This could involve visiting the GP or seeking out additional resources to help them with the issues they are struggling with. Let your child know they can always contact a supportive charity such as ChildLine or the Samaritans anonymously by telephone or via a web chat if they need a confidential discussion.”
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About Priory and MEDIAN Group
Priory is the UK’s largest independent provider of mental health and adult social care services. Priory treats more than 70 conditions, including depression, anxiety, addictions and eating disorders, as well as children’s mental health, across its nationwide network of sites. Priory also supports autistic adults and adults with a learning disability, Prader-Willi Syndrome and brain injuries, as well as older people, within specialist residential care and supported living facilities – helping as many people as possible to live their lives.
Priory is part of the MEDIAN Group, the leading European provider of high-quality mental health and rehabilitation services. The MEDIAN Group comprises: Priory in the UK with 280 facilities and 5,000 beds caring for 26,000 people, MEDIAN in Germany with 120 facilities and 18,000 beds caring for 273,000 patients, and Hestia in Spain with 10 facilities and 2,000 beds caring for 10,000 people in Spain, with more than 30,000 employees across the group.