Exam stress is incredibly common in young people during the GCSE and A Level time period. So much so that people tend to write it off as being something that is normal and just a part of the process. However, stress is an illness that if not fixed, can be very dangerous.

Some symptoms of stress include: feeling dizzy, or sick all the time, headaches, sleep problems, irritability and a sense of feeling overwhelmed all the time. To some, these thoughts may seem very normal, however stress can lead to significant problems so it is important to fix the problem as soon as it arrives. Some ways of relieving stress include: meditation or breathing techniques, allowing yourself breaks from what causes you stress in order to gain some form of relaxation. You could also fit exercise into your schedule and also eating healthily can help with stress.

Sleeping well is incredibly important, especially when you are growing, and stress causes bad sleeping patterns. This is often because your mind is constantly racing and trying to think of ways to solve the problem you are having. Trying to get at least 9-10 hours of sleep is important and if you have trouble getting that much, make a schedule of everything you are going to do in one day, and making sure that by a certain time, you stop the work you are doing and carry on the next day if it is still not completed.

A friend of mine at school, who wishes to be kept anonymous, said to me, 'Exams are just so much harder now than they used to be and coping with that stress is really hard'. 

Secondary school only comes around once and if the entirety of it is spent worrying and stressing, then it is a wasted opportunity to meet new people and gain new experiences.