Worry, anxiety, stress, discomfort and insomnia are among the common reactions of those facing maturity. It is undeniable that the anxiety generated by this passing exam is powerful, so much so that we often hear of people who dream of having to retake the exam many years later, or who have the nightmare of not having passed it. The concern, however, in this post-pandemic maturity, seems to be higher than in previous years: this is demonstrated by a survey conducted by Skuola.net together with the National Association Di.Te., which revealed that more than three interviewees out of five associate negative moods and pessimistic forecasts regarding one’s psychophysical well-being are examined. Furthermore, over 72% are certain that it will affect the outcome of the exam. There are, however, some expert-recommended strategies that help reduce the effects of anxiety and manage insomnia.
When investing in an event or facing a trial, anxiety is an inevitable factor. Not only that, it is necessary: it is in fact a psychological activation linked to survival and the achievement of a goal. The question, therefore, is not how to eliminate anxiety, but how to learn to manage it so that it does not become pervasive in the mind, preventing performance, inhibiting thinking and preventing sleep.
Maturity exam, how to defeat anxiety: the expert’s advice
“In the case of maturity, the level of anxiety depends above all on the level of investment and the value attributed not only by the person facing it, but also by the expectations in the family environment and by the teachers”, he says. Matteo Lancini, psychologist and psychotherapist expert in the developmental age. “On a physiological level, however, anxiety is a fundamental motivator: without anxiety you cannot reach your goals. Then, of course, it depends on what level of anxiety, anguish or over-investment is, because the risk is that these become such as to affect the realization of the approach period to the test and also the realization of the test itself “.
The solution? Friends
If some anxiety is more than normal before an exam, it is important to keep it below the alert level for an optimal result. We must understand – Lancini explains – that maturity is an important step in life, but not decisive. So give it the right importance but without exaggerating, also resorting to some small strategy that helps to put things in the right perspective. Starting, for example, with choosing the right interlocutor. “In this sense – continues Lancini – I believe, for example, that it is very important to be able to share the concern with classmates rather than with parents. One way could be to start thinking of it as an adventure, a part of one’s own project. life, more than as a decisive event for one’s own value. I strongly believe in support between peers, especially if you are lucky enough to have classmates with whom you have built good relationships and with whom you are able to collaborate. that the value of the group and solidarity matters a lot, rather than the competition that unfortunately is present in many classes “.
The most important resource for learning to manage anxiety, therefore, should be sought in relationships with others – companions, friends, peers. “I strongly believe in the value of socialization, and above all I believe that the communities of adolescents that can be created around maturity can be very important. I am thinking, for example, of the possibility of going a few days to study alone at someone’s home, at the seaside, in the mountains, perhaps even without adults. I strongly believe in the value of relationships beyond individual techniques. “
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The reaction to the stressful event, however, depends a lot on individual characteristics. Beyond age, boys have completely unique characteristics. Lancini points out that there are no individual techniques that work for everyone, but it is necessary for everyone to find their own. There is so much diversity among individuals that what works for someone can have the opposite effect of increasing the level of stress and anxiety in someone else.
Lack of sleep, beware of medications
For many people, anxiety is also synonymous with insomnia. Another piece of the vicious circle that can push the anguish for an exam to worsen our performance: the right quality and quantity of sleep are in fact essential to face maturity in the best way.
“For high school graduates it is possible that there are sleep disorders due to anxiety for the exams, but first of all we must specify that there are different types of sleep disorders and that they are very common disorders – he explains Flavio Villani, neurologist of the San Martino polyclinic in Genoa specializing in epilepsy and sleep disorders -. When anxiety is limited to a short period in which the level of stress is high and compromises sleep, a series of good practices can be adopted to help prepare the body for an optimal night’s rest. Among these, limiting the use of technological devices just before going to bed, not going to bed immediately after having dinner and, in any case, having dinner with light food, no coffee or alcohol, and taking care to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room. “.
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But we must be careful about the too casual use of medicines. “For young people it is especially important to avoid taking drugs or pills at random without a prescription or a precise medical diagnosis,” says Villani. When sleep problems persist over time, beyond three or four weeks, rather than rely on do-it-yourself, it is good to contact specialists, contacting a center dedicated to sleep medicine, who will be able to make a diagnosis and plan the most appropriate therapy. .
In any case, sleep disorders in Italy are quite widespread: on average, 15% of adults suffer from them, and among these also those who are maturing (who are often at least eighteen years old). They are all characterized by the presence of one or more of these symptoms: difficulty falling asleep or / and staying asleep (insomnia), frequent awakenings during the night with difficulty falling asleep again, waking up very early in the morning, poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, movement disorders (such as restless leg syndrome) and breathing disorders (such as sleep apnea syndrome).
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