I freak out during tests, and forget a lot of what I know. I m worried that I ll never make it through school at this rate. Some anxiety is helpful, as it provides energy and concentrated focus. Too much anxiety, as you well know, is debilitating.
Anxiety can build on itself unless one learns strategies to contain it.
Usually it is some form of worrying about worrying that increases the anxiety into the debilitating range. Or, once having that experience, people often develop an anticipation of getting a debilitating amount of anxiety, worrying that one will freak out, further increasing anxiety, again making it more likely that one s anxiety will increase into the obstructive range.