Math Anxiety

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Math Anxiety

• Donnie Farnsworth
• Minnesota State University, Mankato
• Campus Counseling Services

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Introduction

• Name
• Major
• Class standing
• Hobby

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What is anxiety?

• Anxiety -vs- Fear
• Physical Symptoms
• Feelings
• Actions
• Thoughts

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Why do we have anxiety

• When is it good?
• Must have a purpose, right?
• Fight / Flight / Freeze
• Self preserving function

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Math Anxiety

• Anxiety in math situations
• Social
• Academic
• Evaluation
• Important distinction
• Intellectually Able to do the math, unable to
  show ability
• What its not
• Unprepared
• Airplane w/o Parachute

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Math Anxiety Symptoms

• Physical
• Respiratory
• Cardiac
• Gastrointestinal
• Vascular
• Muscular
• Other

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Math Anxiety Symptoms

• Behavioral
• Avoidance
• Endurance

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Math Anxiety Symptoms

• Thoughts
• Negativism
• Cognitive Distortions
• Overgeneralization
• Catastrophizing
• Math Anxiety Genic
• Negative Self Talk

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Math Anxiety Symptoms

• Feelings

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Development

• Genetics
• Temperament
• Anxious
• naturally talented
• Naturally good at math
• Learning
• Social myths / stereotypes
• Family
• School
• Multiple above sources

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Development - Consequences

• Self Image
• Poor match
• Overall self image
• Thought Process
• Detrimental thoughts

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Regulating Math Anxiety

• Have to break connection
• Anxiety
• Performance
• Negative thoughts
• Professional Therapy (CBT)
• Not usually what is needed for math anxiety

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Performance

• Study
• Study
• Study
• Study
• Study

X
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Thoughts

• Id inappropriate negative thoughts
• Label thoughts
• Change thoughts

X
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Cognitive Distortions

• All or none thinking
• Overgeneralization
• Mental filter
• Disqualifying the positive
• Jumping to conclusions

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Cognitive Distortions

• Magnification (Catastrophizing) or Minimizing
• Emotional Reasoning
• Should statements
• Labeling and mislabeling
• Personalization

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Anxiety
X

• Progressive Muscle Relaxation
• Sleep Hygiene
• Visualization
• Deep Breathing
• ONLY MANAGE ANXIETY
• Do not get rid of it, Dont want to.

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In Closing

• Have to practice relaxation techniques /
  cognitive disputing to become good at it.
• Never get rid of anxiety, only manage it.
• Other relaxation techniques available in self
  help section.

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Questions???

• ?

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(No Transcript)