Maths Anxiety
With all the talk about students having to continue their maths education. I have had so many more questions regarding this so have put together a few previous blog posts. I hope this helps and as always get in touch if I can help.
Maths anxiety is a surprisingly common thing - it is the feeling of apprehension or anxiety when faced with a maths problem. It can therefore limit performance in mathematical subjects, but is in no way linked to intelligence or ability. Although anyone can experience this, it is most common in girls and women. Throughout my career in education, I’ve seen and helped people through a lot of maths anxiety, and this blog post series is going to look at the causes of maths anxiety and how we can help treat and deal with it.
So what causes maths anxiety?
Like all anxiety, the causes of maths anxiety are usually quite complex and varied, as maths is in our everyday life, from adding two prices together at the grocery store to budgeting to paying bills and taxes. Common causes include:
External pressures, like exams, paying bills and taxes by a deadline, as this brings time pressure and judgement on whether or not your answer is correct.
Past experiences - being judged or humiliated previously for incorrect answers in class, or receiving a bad grade, or simply the fear of being embarrassed for doing badly, even if it has never previously happened to you.
Perfectionism and the fear of failure - similar to the last point, but perfectionism causes you to stress over your work as you anticipate making mistakes.
Authority figures - it can also be people in your life that are contributing to the anxiety, for example, an imposing landlord who collects rent and bills every month or a particularly scary maths teacher.
Cultural bias - maths anxiety affects everyone, but is particularly prevalent in women and girls because of the societal bias about women being worse at maths and logical skills. This also extends to your background, and can be imposed on you by anyone from peers to family to the general environment you are in.
Financial issues - money is a big cause of stress for a lot of people, so anything related to chequebooks, unpaid bills, taxes, even shopping sometimes can be a source of anxiety for some people.
This list is by no means exhaustive, but is a few of the most common causes of maths anxiety.
What are its symptoms and how does it affect people?
It has a lot of the same symptoms as general anxiety, as it is simply a subset of that. This includes elevated heart rate, breathing faster, sweating, nausea, sweating, feeling panicked or stressed, feeling flustered and struggling to focus on a calculation you know you can do. Some other, less noticeable symptoms are negative self-talk, putting off maths problems or homework, dreading maths lessons in school, difficulty remembering or understanding mathematical concepts and panic and anxiety when doing maths. It is important to remember that it is NOT an indicator of academic ability, as the phobia of maths can inhibit you from doing problems you may have otherwise been able to do.
Although this seems like a very niche issue, maths anxiety can have knock-on effects later in life, as maths is needed everywhere and is deceptively important. Untreated maths anxiety can result in anxiety simply by looking at sale discounts or checking your bank balance, and is a very real issue.
As it is a subcategory of general anxiety and shares a lot of the same symptoms, the ways to address it are also similar, but sometimes tailored to the maths element of it. Below are some easy ways to address it if you think you suffer from maths anxiety:
The first step is to always acknowledge and recognise the emotion. It may not be something you have heard of before, but putting a name to the feeling and emotion allows you to begin to fully process it and work on it.
Positive reinforcement is vital, and not only from yourself but from others too. Letting your teacher or someone you trust know how you are feeling regarding maths can really help, as they can provide the support and positive reinforcement you need and may not be getting. It is equally as important to try and look for that within yourself - positive thoughts can go a long way in counteracting the negative ones. They may feel forced at first, and you may not believe it, but as I always say, ‘fake it till you make it!’. The more you say these things to yourself, the more you will start to believe them, and it can have a huge impact in combating those panicky feelings you get when trying to solve a maths problem.
Try to focus on understanding, not memorising - this helps with building general mathematical foundations and is a good study tip overall. However, in this context, a strong maths foundation means you are simply more likely to get maths questions right, and that confidence boost is what you need! It is to show that maths anxiety is not a measure of your intelligence and with the right help and work, you are capable!
Talk to someone. Anxiety is something that should not be dealt with alone, and having someone in your corner can really help. Talk to someone you trust, whether a parent, a friend, a teacher or a mental health professional, as a burden shared is a burden halved. Even if nothing else, simply the fact that someone else knows means you have someone to talk to if you're having a particularly bad day.
The most important thing to remember is that dealing with any mental health issues is a gradual process and not a linear one. There will be good days and bad days, but talking to someone means that you have someone to turn to on the especially bad ones. If you can, please speak to a mental health professional, as they will be properly equipped and trained to help you in the most effective way. Remember, your feelings are valid and reaching out for help is a sign of strength, not weakness!