Ask students about their biggest fear, and 9 out of 10 students will say one word in unison ‘MATH’. Often educators fail to understand the reason behind such anxiety of students regarding math. But irrespective of the educator’s failure to understand, students continue to feel the same way.
Studies show that this phobia of math directly impacts the student’s performance on their tests. I have experienced the same. Until then, I was super confused about why I was unable to give my best in the math tests despite extensive practice throughout the year. I found later that my anxiety about math was the reason for the same.
But I don’t want you to experience this same kind of pressure for years, which is why I have listed down several tricks in this blog to overcome this math phobia before the exam.
But before getting into the details of treating phobia, you need to understand the reason behind math phobia. I hope that it will help you fight the phobia better.
Research says that there is no doubt that math is a comparatively difficult subject, and it might not be equally easy for everyone to grasp it. According to do my coursework experts, math phobia is nothing but the students’ anxiety regarding solving problems. Children psychiatrists suggest that this anxiety is often a mixed feeling of whether or not they remember the formula, whether they will be able to apply it perfectly, etc.
This problem might look trivial but is actually very grave, for this anxiety often leads to serious conditions such as depression, nausea and even panic attacks in the students. As a result, students’ productivity gets hampered directly.
If you also face severe headaches, nausea or fast heartbeats before a math test, do not ignore it. This can be because of severe anxiety. Read the 6 points listed below to get a permanent solution to this issue. But of course, only reading will not do; you have to practice the same as well.
6 Tips to Help You Overcome Math Phobia
- Learn to Acknowledge –
You need not be the strong guy. There is no harm in acknowledging and accepting your phobia of math. It makes you no less capable than others. I understand that students are often ashamed to accept this because they think that it might make them look inferior. But there is no reason to feel this way. Rather until and unless you accept it nobody can help you. So first things first, accept that you have a math phobia.
- Breathe in and Breathe Out –
Whenever you feel tense and anxious about your math test, sit at a place, try to calm yourself down and do the breathing exercises. This is basic science – whenever you are stressed, breathing exercises help a lot of oxygen flow in your body and allow your mind to calm down. And a calm mind is very important before your test, for only a calm mind can help in critical thinking and better problem-solving.
- Daily Practice is the Key.
Again the ages-long proverb will be the most appropriate here – practice makes a man perfect.
Whether or not this is true for any other field, this is one hundred per cent true for math. Until and unless you practice enough, you can never ace the skills of math solving. Numerous rounds of practice will only allow you to memorise the formulas and boost your confidence in solving different types of sums.
- Apply Math in Real Life –
Mathematicians say that math is very much present in our daily life. Incorporating math into your day-to-day life will make it a part of your life and help you overcome your fear of it. Does implementing math in real life sound impractical? Here’s how you can do it.
Being a sufferer of math phobia, I am telling you a trick, math is like that attention-seeking kid. The more you give it attention, the fewer tantrums it will show. In this case, the less troublesome it will become less troublesome.
- Keep Your Questions Ready.
It can’t be that you have no doubts when you are learning a new mathematical concept. Keep the questions ready for your teacher in the next class. For some concepts, you may require two to three rounds of explanation. Go for it if you need it. No need to be ashamed. At the end of the day, you need to bring better grades than the last time. So don’t stop asking questions until you are fully confident and clear about the concepts.
Solving related sums won’t be a big deal when a concept is clear, and you will get less anxious.
- Ask For Help From Friends.
You surely have somebody in your class who is more confident than you with math. Ask them for help. Try fixing some group study plans with them. Working together can have an immensely positive impact on your learning. Often, seeing somebody do better, your willpower will force you to try harder and eventually, you will give better efforts.
Parting Thoughts –
The above tips are no strict rules out of a book. These are formed out of the experience of several generations of students dealing with math phobia. Try practising these tips and it will help you out eventually. If you fail to deal with this even after these tricks, I would suggest better have a word with a counsellor. They can suggest you some better, more yielding exercises that will guide you in the clinical way of getting over your math phobia.
About the Author –
Reema Joseph is a professor from a respected college in Australia. She is linked with MyAssignmenthelp.com because she wants to provide do my homework writing guidance to students at graduation and post-graduation levels. She is confident that her guidance can help students score better grades.