FOF- Fear of Fail

I’m not going to make light of your problem but I faced the same mental problems as a boy when faced with a visit to the dentist. Eventually, the only way I could climb those stairs to the surgery was to persuade myself that, in 30 / 40 minutes time I would be walking down those same stairs and, even though my mouth would be numb (some would say that it matched my brain!) I would recover and life would go on.

I’m no psychologist / psychiatrist. All I can suggest is what seemed to work for me. Think beyond the morning of the exam – think into the afternoon of the exam day.

And do that for all three of the exams that you are attempting

You are right to be concerned about the exams – these ACCA exams ARE tough and for someone who has never had to face / suffer failure before, they DO inspire that degree of worry. But life goes on. They’re not a question of life or death. They’re a hurdle to get over and then move on. And many people do. But you are not doing yourself any favours by building up an anxiety level that has now become distracting.

Deep breaths, cool, calm, collected. And you’ll be out of that exam room exactly 3 hours 15 minutes after you entered it. Look beyond the pain!

(Maybe I should have been a psychiatrist / psychologist!)

Hope all that helps

You’re very kind Cherryblossom. Just remember, the more pressure that you place upon yourself, the more distracted you become and the less able to do yourself full justice

Chill!