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Sean Lemoine
Grace Apiafi
HED 044
25 November 2017
concerns about unusual bouts of lightheadedness. On the way to their office, I began
experiencing an elevated heart rate that my watch began notifying me of, a tightness in my chest,
more rapid and shallow breathing, and a tingling sensation in my hands. I began thinking that
what I was having was a heart attack. Once inside their office, a nurse checked my blood
pressure and heart rate and both measured as being healthy and normal, though my heart rate was
slightly elevated. In regards to my reports of lightheadedness the doctor ruled out anything
related to my ears, nose, or throat, and suggested that I go to urgent care. At urgent care, after
having an electrocardiogram (EKG), which helps detect heart problems and measure heart
health, the doctor said that my heart was healthy and, after inquiring about the symptoms I had
In the United States, the most common mental illnesses are anxiety disorders (Facts &
Statistics, 2017). In regards to education, a 2010 study found that 10 to 40 percent of students
were affected by test anxiety and, though some students perform better because of it, others do
For this case study, we are introduced to a freshman student named, Katya, who has a
history of severe test anxiety. Her anxiety is so severe that she recently had a panic attack while
studying for a chemistry exam that she needs to do well on in order to keep her scholarship and
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is just days away. Regardless of the fact that she has a 3.0 grade point average and maintains
healthy study habits, her lack of confidence in her efforts to produce desirable test results induces
things, anxiety and low self-efficacy when it comes to tests. Though self-esteem, self-confidence,
and self-efficacy, may be related, there are distinct differences between them as Peterson points
out.
Self-efficacy stems from Bandura's (1977, 1986, 1997) Social Learning Theory and is
"the belief in one's capabilities to organize and to execute the courses of action required
(Bandura, 1997). Self-efficacy also differs from self-esteem, an estimate of one's worth
It is apparent that she has low self-efficacy when it comes to tests because of her feelings
that the energy she puts into studying does not correlate to her test performance. In an effort to
address and improve her self-efficacy, there are a few tools that she can employ. For Katya,
visualizing success can help make achieving that goal appear attainable as well as help identify
the necessary steps to reach it, utilizing things that lift her spirits and make her feel good can, in
turn, also help her feel good about her efforts, and finding encouragement in a social group that
supports her with positive specific feedback are all ways she could help raise her self-efficacy
(LeVan, 2010).
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As for Katyas anxiety, she can address what if questions by changing any concerns to
actionable steps to help her achieve her goal, attempt to understand the ambiguous nature of
future events and identify things that are within and outside of her control, and instill a positive
influence over physiological reactions in her body by utilizing progressive muscle relaxation
exercises as well as diaphragmatic breathing to mitigate tension and typical stress responses
(Minden, 2016).
Since having my anxiety attack, I have come to realize through conversations and
responses just how many people have dealt with anxiety in their lives but choose not to talk
about it in less than private settings. The tools for dealing with anxiety that I have mentioned
have personally helped me slowly recover from it and build confidence that I am better prepared
for the future and my attempts to see the parts of the whole that I feel can help me achieve
success in various areas of my life have led me to feel an increase in my own self-efficacy. In the
future, I hope to welcome challenges and see them as opportunities for growth, development, and
learning.
References
https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
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Gotter, Ana (2017, April 14). What Is Test Anxiety? Retrieved from
https://www.healthline.com/health/test-anxiety#symptoms2
LeVan, A. (2010, February 03). If You Think You Can't... Think Again: The Sway of Self-
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ flourish/201002/if-you-think-you-
can-t-think-again-the-sway-self-efficacy
Minden, J. (2016, July 30). Top 10 Ways to Reduce Anxiety. Retrieved November 26, 2017,
from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/cbt-and-me/201607/top-10-ways-reduce-anxiety
Peterson, T. O., & Arnn, R. B. (2005). Self-efficacy: The foundation of human performance.
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