Stress/Vent

**casil403** · 02-23-2010, 10:22 PM

So I have midterms next week...these are some really difficult ones as they are practical exams where you have to stand in front of the instructors, and perform a given scenario involving a rehab client (eg left paralysis stroke, total hip replacement. SCI injury) and perform a transfer and positioning and they mark you on EVERYTHING...from how you are dressed to how you introduce yourself to how you perform the movement and leave the client) The other one involves being able to perform a passive range of motion(ie shoulder manipulation) and instruct a client to perform an active range as well...say shoulder adduction/abduction.

Let's just say it has me stressing....nightmares and bad drreams, and everytime I think of it I get a knot in my stomach bordering on wanting to hurl. Just finished having a good anxiety cry to release some of the stress.

I just want to do well and keep my high GPA. I hate this time of the year.

I just want it to be over soon. I probably know more than I think I do and will most likely do fine but there's that naggy, crappy voice in my head that keeps me worried. I'm sure everyone else in class is going through the same thing but I wish I could figure out a way to not let it get to me so bad.

Anyhow a few more good cries and crappy nights and it will be all over soon.
Sorry had to vent...does anybody else get like this in high stress situations? How do you deal with it?

**Michaelaw** · 02-23-2010, 10:53 PM

I always try to remember two points the first being...Everything I've ever sweated and agonized over passed into history as almost a non event where it resides to this day. The other, and this I used for the last month of college....Have I done my best to come out ahead in this situation, if so, it is what it is and I have no need to fear. To this day, just before a really big show I use much the same thoughts...I still come off like an over wound two dollar pocket watch 'bout ten minutes before the show. Stiff drink can work wonders too

Good luck Casil...I'll bet you ace it

**Bambi** · 02-23-2010, 10:55 PM

okay I can relate. both with school and with horse competitions. You know you have prepared well but there's this little (or not so little voice) that creates anxiety. I have a few techniques that I use and they are helpful. Feel free to use, not use, stop reading as you like:

1. do not allow yourself to be rushed. In a performance activity the tendency to hurry through it. give yourself permission to stop, breathe and take your time.

2. visualize what you will be doing. every step. then visualize it going wrong-yes really. Because then you can visualize what you will do to fix it. this will help you if it happens. but most likely it won't because as you visualize it going wrong you will be able to recognise the point at which it could be prevented.

3. don't allow thoughts like "I hope I don't drop the patient" or "God, what if I forget to put the brakes on the wheel chair". Instead change those thoughts to "I will remember to check the wheel chair brakes" or " I am strong and steady in lifting patients". the theory behind this is that the brain doesn't differentiate between our thoughts and our actions. So if you put the right thoughts in the right actions will come out. I don't know how true this is but I do know that it works. My horse when younger had a habit of bucking (and he can really buck) in tense situations. Instead of thinking 'oh I hope he doesn't buck at the show' I spent a week thinking 'if he bucks I will sit my ass in the saddle, sit up and make him go forward'. And he DID buck at the show - a big one! but I did what I had trained myself to think and it went fine.

4.. recognise this for what it is. A right of passage and you will survive. Also remember the GPA's don't matter in the field. Seriously. I have learned that academic excellence does not necessarily mean clinical competence. And in applied fields, it is competence that is important, not grades.

I won't tell you not to worry, because you will. Just worry 'productively''.

**casil403** · 02-23-2010, 11:01 PM

Bambi and Michael ---------->

Not much more to say than that.

**Greg_Nuspel** · 02-24-2010, 12:18 AM

Yes I know the stress thing it's hard to keep your head on straight at times. Bambi hit all the important points and just remember we're all here silently cheering you on.

**AcadieLibre** · 02-24-2010, 12:51 AM

Well I know you will do well and some people flourish under stress like I do. So it may be what gives such a high G.P.A. and it may be a pain now it also may get you the the well deserved marks you get. Just go with the flow and I would say don't worry but you will so try and not to over stress yourself. And when you kill the midterms and you can come back and brag to us which we are looking forward to.

**casil403** · 02-24-2010, 09:07 AM

You guys are too kind.....know I appreciate the support. I feel better thanks to the encouragement and advice.

Funny thing is all the students seem to pick me out to help them if they can't find an instructor for some reason...maybe because I am the oldest...

Anyway we had to practice yesterday and I spent half the time teaching and showing other students how to do stuff which I guess is good because it reinforces it on me also.

It was also good because we had a guy come in who had a brain injury a while back and volunteers some of his time so students can learn/practice with him...what a cool guy...I spent some time talking with him after class...he is actually grateful for his injury because it changed him as a person in a good way...he has no recollection/memory of himself prior to his injury but he asked others who knew him what he was like and apparently he wasn't very kind. He looks at his injury as a blessing because it changed him in so many good ways!
Had a bit of a lump in my throat after listening to him talk...felt kinda humbled also....just reinforces that this is what I want to do with the rest of my working life.

**Greg_Nuspel** · 03-02-2010, 07:55 PM

I just want to know....how did it go?

**casil403** · 03-02-2010, 08:14 PM

Lol well so far 2 exams written of 6 .....one exam marked out of 6 and on that one 93%...The one yesterday was the hardest one I've written so far of them all and on that one. I just looked...80%. That one sucked... but after talking with the classmates, they pretty much all agreed!

I'm just glad it's over!
I have one tomorrow written, my first practical on Thursday(

) and the other on Tuesday then one more.

Thanks for asking!

**casil403** · 03-04-2010, 02:53 PM

So i just got back form my first practical and it went

I knew the movements, the positioning and I did everything correctly and then I was asked a question by the instructor I had full range of movement in the position....my brain instead interpereted it as "you must have done something wrong" So I blanked out, got distracted and lost most of my marks for lack of confidence. If I had answered the question and explained why I would have gotten perfect marks.

I passed..but minimally and just.

I'm a bit choked, upset and PO'd about it (and me) right now.....

Out for a walk to de-compress I guess.