I suspect then that some of you are going to think it strange to read this article dealing with the same subject so early in the semester. No one is worrying about tests now. That may be true, but it seems to me that learning now, even so early in the semester, to cope more effectively with stress and anxiety is a desirable goal.
Prevention is always better than remedy.
One of the most effective strategies for reducing or eliminating tension or anxiety is muscle relaxation. When used successfully, deep muscle relaxation can act like an antianxiety pill. This is based on the premise that our bodies respond to anxious thoughts with muscle tension. This physiological tension then increases our subjective experience of anxiety. Relaxing our muscles reduces this tension and is incompatible with anxiety.