DiscoverThe Teen Anxiety Maze- Parenting Teens, Help for Anxiety, Anxious Teens, Anxiety ReliefThe Anxiety Maze Archives: Test Anxiety is NOT about the test. It's about the brain.
The Anxiety Maze Archives: Test Anxiety is NOT about the test. It's about the brain.

The Anxiety Maze Archives: Test Anxiety is NOT about the test. It's about the brain.

Update: 2025-11-25
Share

Description

Send us a text

Finals season is here — and so is the test anxiety that so many teens and college students struggle with. In fact, research shows: 

  • 25–40% of students experience significant test anxiety
  • About 20% experience test anxiety at severe levels
  • Students with high test anxiety score an average of 12 percentile points lower even when they’ve studied
  • Anxiety directly impacts memory, focus, motivation, and performance

If your teen is melting down during study time, avoiding preparation, blanking during exams, or overwhelmed before finals, this episode will help.
 
Today’s re-released episode walks through:
What test anxiety really is

  • Why test anxiety spikes before finals
  • What’s happening in the brain and body during anxiety
  • Why students blank even when they’re prepared
  • How sleep, preparation, and routines impact performance
  • Simple, powerful tools students can use to calm their body and keep their brain online
  • Steps to take before, during, and after the test
  • A free guided relaxation audio to help them reset their nervous system

You’ll hear Cynthia explain how thoughts drive anxiety — not the test itself — and why the alarmed nervous system makes it impossible to think clearly during finals. 
 

🎁 Bonus: Free Test Anxiety Relaxation Audio

 
 🌟 NEW: December Parent Workshop — December 8

 Helping Teens Manage Test Anxiety (Without Adding to It!)
 
Parents play a huge role in helping teens regulate during finals.
In this live workshop, Cynthia will teach you:
How to recognize test anxiety (and what it looks like at home)

  • What helps your teen’s brain stay calm and focused
  • Sleep, routine, and study habits that protect performance
  • What to say (and what to avoid) during stressful weeks
  • Tools you can use together to reduce panic, overwhelm, and shutdown
  • How to model calm even when you’re stressed
  • Plus — you’ll receive the Test Anxiety Meditation to use at home

Date: Monday, December 8
Time: 6:00 PM CST
Register here

🙌 NEW: Pay-What-You-Want Test Anxiety Strategy Sessions (for Teens + College Students)

For the next four weeks, Cynthia is offering 1-hour personalized test anxiety strategy sessions to help teens understand their triggers, regulate their nervous system, and walk into finals confident — not panicked.
 
Each teen session includes:

  • A 1-hour personalized coaching session
  • A custom Test Anxiety Plan
  • Test-day strategy and reset tools
  • The Test Anxiety Meditation
  • A personalized study routine
  • BONUS: Access to 4 Guided Pomodoro Co-Study Sessions
    (students can join immediately — even before their session)

Perfect for:
 High schoolers • College students • ACT/SAT/ • Young adults with high-stakes exams
 
Book a session here
 

Find my podcast
Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
Text me: 785-380-2064
More information

Comments 
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

The Anxiety Maze Archives: Test Anxiety is NOT about the test. It's about the brain.

The Anxiety Maze Archives: Test Anxiety is NOT about the test. It's about the brain.