College Students, Stress, and Test Anxiety: Finding Calm in the Chaos
Some of the biggest stress drivers include:
- Academic pressure: High expectations from professors, parents, and even themselves.
- Sleep deprivation: Late-night studying interferes with focus and memory.
- Diet and lifestyle: Fast food and caffeine become coping mechanisms which actually increase stress.
- Uncertainty about the future: College is full of “what’s next?” questions, which fuel anxiety.
This kind of chronic stress doesn’t just hurt grades—it impacts overall health. Brain fog, irritability, and low motivation can spiral into burnout.
As a former college nursing instructor, I witnessed firsthand the immense stress students live with daily. Exams in nursing programs are notoriously tough, and I saw bright, hardworking students struggle with anxiety that clouded their thinking and held them back. I wasn’t just observing it in my students—I experienced it myself. Years later, I faced my own battle with anxiety. What started as occasional stress escalated to the point where even activities I loved, like traveling, became overwhelming. That personal struggle showed me how deeply stress can impact not just performance, but the joy we find in everyday life.
At Galenoia Brain Wellness, I bring both my professional and personal experiences into the work I do. I know what it feels like to live under the weight of stress, and I also know the relief that comes when your nervous system finally finds balance.
IASIS Micro Current Neurofeedback (MCN) uses extremely gentle, non-invasive pulses (about one millionth of a cell phone’s energy) to “reset” and rebalance brain activity. Instead of training the brain to push harder, MCN helps it let go of stuck patterns like fight-or-flight overdrive.
Results are quick: Many people notice improvements in clarity, calm, and focus within the first few sessions.
No effort required: Unlike studying harder or trying to “will yourself calm,” MCN works passively—you simply sit back while your brain does the work of resetting.
Anxiety & Depression Association of America. (n.d.). Test Anxiety Facts & Statistics.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). College Mental Health Statistics.
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