Do exams affect your mental health? (2023)

Do exams cause depression?

Exam stress can cause you to feel anxious or depressed, and this might affect your sleeping or eating habits. so they can be there to support you, encourage you and offer a listening ear. You don't have to go through this alone.

Exam stress can affect how we feel, think and behave. You might experience different things before, during and after your exams. When feelings of stress become too much to manage, this can affect our mental health. Stress can also make existing mental health problems feel harder to cope with.

“Teachers and parents report that high-stakes tests lead to higher levels of anxiety and lower levels of confidence on the part of elementary students,” researchers explained in a 2005 study.

A little nervousness before a test is normal and can help sharpen your mind and focus your attention. But with test anxiety, feelings of worry and self-doubt can interfere with your test-taking performance and make you miserable.

Feeling exhausted or drained and unable to do basic tasks, like get out of bed. Insomnia. Unable to fall or stay asleep for more than just a few nights. Forgetfulness or inability to concentrate and focus.

PTSD is not usually caused by situations such as a divorce, job loss or failing exams. These can be difficult, but you are unlikely to develop PTSD as a result.

It can be related to a negative previous experience of exams, poor preparation, worry about failure, or pressure to perform. For children and young people who are generally anxious, the experience of taking exams can be very threatening and could lead to unmanageable increases in anxiety levels.

It's perfectly natural to feel lost, apathetic or sad after exams, and the best thing to do is acknowledge these feelings. Good habits such as exercise and healthy eating often go out the window when you're busy studying, on top of losing your free time - so having your freedom back can be surprisingly overwhelming.

What are the side effects of exams?

Stress and depression while studying and choosing a programme of studies can sometimes be the basis of a depression.