Surviving the HSC

SURVIVING THE HSC

IS THIS THE MOST STRESSFUL EVENT THAT WILL EVER HAPPEN TO YOU?

HSC is not considered one of life’s top 10 stresses!

 Physical health is vital if mental ability is to be operating at its full capacity.

Exam Food

  • Have healthy snacks such as fruit salad that can be grabbed from the fridge
  • Should be snacking every 2 to 3 hours to keep up blood sugar levels
  • Emphasis has to be on carbohydrates – converts to sugar to feed the brain
  • Breakfast cereals, bananas and honey sandwiches; dried fruit
  • Need foods that are easy to digest so you can be alert
  • Fats delay stomachs emptying, so keep them low and eat lean protein

 Hydration

  • Watch the coffee
  • Drink plenty of water 6 – 8 classes
  • Stress affects the immune system, making you more susceptible to colds
  • Get plenty of iron, which takes oxygen around the body
  • Keep up the vitamin C and zinc

Boosting your memory

  • Ginkgo Biloba – herbal extract derived from the leaves of a tree of Chinese origin may increase the blood flow to the brain improving alertness and concentration
  • Anti-oxidants – mega doses of Vitamin E and C may assist memory
  • Physical exercise – moderate aerobic exercise enhances memory retention
  • Mental exercise – the brain is like a muscle – if you don’t use it you’ll lose it

Relaxation & Stress Management

  • Physically relax – letting go of tension in muscles; mentally relax – blocking out thoughts which cause tension and turning to non stressful thoughts
  • Breathing awareness – becoming aware of your breath and focusing only one it conducted in a quiet environment
  • Muscle tense-release exercise – systematically tensing and then releasing the muscles in your body commencing with your feet and finishing with your head
  • Pleasant Visualisation – imaging yourself in a place where you feel tranquil and peaceful

Sleep

  • You need to maintain regular sleeping hours with – approximately 8 hours daily. Engage in quiet activities before bed – not watching horror movies

 

FAQ about seeing a psychologist

If you are experiencing difficulties within your relationships or you are finding it hard to manage your emotions, thoughts and behaviours you may benefit from receiving help from a psychologist. A psychologist can also assist you with proactive mental health – they can help you better understand what contributes to your emotions, thoughts and behaviours thus allowing you to choose how to respond to these parts of your life

The number of sessions required will depend on the presentation, and the severity of the symptoms which are being experienced. Other factors such as age, past experience and psychological well-being will also influence the number of sessions required.

A referral is not required to see a psychologist. If a psychiatrist or a GP does refer you a rebate from medicare is available. If you do not have a referral your private health insurance may entitle you to a rebate.

Between 50 – 55 minutes.