You may have noticed that when you are nervous in a social situation you may blank on a person's name. A few minutes later, when you relax again, the name pops into your ahead. Actually, it was there all along but your nervousness about finding it stopped you from retrieving it as quickly as you could. Using self-hypnosis to help with studying is like easing the anxiety which stops you from remembering the name. But instead of names alone, you are helping yourself to recall facts and figures, too.
Jim Ronan, a counsellor and hypno-therapist in Swords, Co Dublin, works with Leaving Cert students to help them learn how to relax under pressure. "Quite a lot of people think they are relaxed, but watching TV is not relaxation, it's recreation," he says. "When a person gets an experience of deep relaxation for the first time, it's amazing the effect it has on them. Once they have experienced it, they can learn to do it for themselves at home. These skills take only an hour or two to learn, and have proved time and time again to be useful. I've had very good feedback from Leaving and Junior Cert students, as well as mature students."
The major issue for students in the run-up to the exam is anticipation, and this can have an affect on studying. "If they get rid of the anxiety of anticipation, students can take in the information much more easily while they are studying," he says. "And once they have learned to use self-hypnosis and breathing exercises, they can very easily retrieve these skills to use in the exam hall." Any alternative therapy that calms the nervous system will help you to concentrate, absorb and recall information, he advises. Acupuncture, reflexology and massage may all be helpful.
Oisine Hannan is a registered acupuncturist and a chartered physiotherapist with the Irish Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, which can be contacted at 01-4022148.
The Professional Register of Chinese Medicine, 01- 4967830 can advise on practitioners in your area.
Jim Ronan's number is 01- 8404161.