The Anxiety Caused by Math
When French mathematician Laurent Schwartz was in high school, he started to worry he was not smart enough to solve math problems. Many people have a similar feeling. You sit down to take a math test, and you feel your heartbeat faster and your palms start to sweat. You get butterflies in your stomach, and you can’t concentrate. This phenomenon is called math anxiety, and if it happens to you, you’re not alone.
Researchers think about 20% of the world suffers from it. Some psychologists even consider it a diagnosable condition. But having mathematical anxiety doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bad at math - people often do poorly in math because they’re anxious about it. Worrying about being able to solve math problems, or not doing well on a test, eats up working memory, leaving less of it available to tackle the math itself. People can suddenly struggle with even basic math skills, like arithmetic, that they’ve otherwise mastered.
So, if you experience mathematical anxiety, what can you do?
Relaxation techniques, like short breathing exercises, have improved performance in students with math anxiety. Writing down your worries can also help. Even physical activity has proved to relieve muscle tension, preventing anxiety from building up.
The brain is flexible, and the areas involved in math skills can always grow and develop. Thinking of yourself as someone who can grow and improve, can actually help you grow and improve. Just remember that anxiety is not a reflection of your ability, but is something that you can conquer with time and awareness.