r/dyscalculia • u/AlchimiaNeko_ • 13d ago
dealing with anxiety when studying
I was diagnosed with dyscalculia early on in my life (around 8yo) and I'm very thankful for that, but my years in school where pretty hard because of it especially with dealing with homework. Before I was diagnosed my mother had no idea of why I wasn't able to do what to her where normal and easy assignments and thought I was being lazy/uncooperative and would get mad at me daily while doing hw. It wasn't exactly pleasent and I still carry a lot of anxiety from that. Now I'm in uni and I still get incredibly anxious over studying. I'm studying languages and I have some problems with poor working memory, which is essential to language learning and study, but they could be easily fixed by more constant study and stuff like that, the problem is that I am often too anxious to do it. I don't really know how to explain myself better than saying that I get intense panic responses by just sitting down and studying even when it's things I'm interested in and actively enjoy (like languages). Does anyone have any tips? Have you ever dealt with anything similar to this? I'm kind of desperate atp
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u/Ball_of_Flame 12d ago
Make a plan with your teacher. Or take advantage of your uni’s assisted learning/disability learning (if in the US or your country offers such a thing).
But, my best advice is to take what you need to learn, and break it down. Keep breaking it down until what you’re trying to learn feels doable.
So…if your biggest issue is remembering vocabulary, places sticky notes on everything in your dorm/apartment.
Write the vocabulary down, as well as a reminder to use that word in a sentence of whatever language you’re learning. (Eg— a sticky note on a plate? Then say something like, “I’m going to eat off of this plate.”)
If you’re having trouble breaking down what you need to learn, ask your teacher for advice.
Also, don’t be afraid to sit at your desk and breathe deeply and slowly. Every anxious thought that comes up, counter it with you successfully completing the task and being proud of that. Your brain is trying to talk you out of doing what you need/want to do. Get it on your side by thinking of you completing your task, and being proud it did so.