Mathematical Anxiety

[SFOMH88]

When I'm out in public I notice my cognitive abilities start to deteriorate, notably my arithmetic skills and memory. This usually kicks in when I am being watched while performing any type of arithmetic. Basic mental math problems that would otherwise be incredibly easy for me will be difficult for me to solve when I'm around people, especially when someone asks me the sum of something and they're waiting for my answer. It's very embarrassing when I appear to not know elementary level problems. Does anyone else experience this? How do you deal with it?

 

[John Snort]

I've been good at Math and anyone wants me to solve a Math problem I'll tell them I'm no good at Math and they'll let me be. Maybe you could try that too. If solving Math problems in public is hard for you then if you can, don't try to solve them and end up embarrassing yourself. In addition to that use self-affirmation to change your attitude too. It could help.

 

[taco]

I have a degree in engineering and I still have a problem when people put me on the spot with a math problem and expect me to solve it in my head. Math is not easy, and remembering all the digits from one step to the next can be a real pain, especially when you have someone right in front of you putting pressure on you expecting an answer immediately. When I get these I will pull out a piece of paper and my calculator and work it out. Just because I can do high level math, doesn't mean I can do those same operations in my head and immediately.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

I am terrible at maths in general, but I do have noticed that I am much more slower when I am around people, and even sometimes I am scared to look really dumb in front of them, when for other subjects I may seem pretty smart. But most of the time I am okay with that, almost everyone who knows me knows that I am terrible at them, and they don't really ask or make the operation by themselves, and I don't think that they have me on a really bad concept because of that.

 

[kelden]

My trick is to solve the problem before going to the chalkboard and write the procedure and solution. I only get anxious when I don't know what I'm doing, but if I know how to solve it, I confidently reveal the solution. No qualms there, only get anxious during unfavorable situations.

 

[LovelyLiz]

I find it harder to think in general when I'm anxious, though for me it generally manifests in a social sense. So I'll forget the names of people, or miss out a key detail from a story, or place the emphasis on the wrong part when I'm trying to be funny. It sounds like your problem is essentially similar, in that when your anxiety makes your mind hyperactive you find it harder to focus on the thing that you need to do

 

[janemariesayed]

Mathematics stress me. I absolutely hate it and it really isn't my subject. I worked for a lawyer in Egypt and had to work out amounts that clients had yet to pay for properties. It was awful and I told my boss how hard it was for me. Then when I returned to the UK I was sent on a course and during that course, they signed me up for a maths course. I got so stressed about it that it was making me anxious and giving me panic attacks. In the end, I told them that I couldn't do it and they let me off.

 

[misszerable]

Math! Although people quickly assume that I'm good at it because I'm an accountant, it's not my strongest suit either. In fact, I'm quite amazed at how fast street vendors can calculate change. I'd often pretend to look at other stuff while my brain struggles to double check their calculation. My brain is definitely not attuned to numbers. I survived high school and college math by studying hard and preparing for recitations and examinations. When I was a new grad, I tried to live up to the expectations and that placed a lot of pressure on me. Years later, I've gained enough confidence to tell people that accounting is not about math at all. Whatever math we do can be done with a calculator, spreadsheet, or a software.

 

[Natasha0717]

I was tormented by Math in grade school. I would save my Math homework for nighttime when my Dad would get home (he's always been the Math-Master)...and he would help me. The thing that bothered me so much about Math was this: I almost got it. But then it wouldn't make sense. But then I'd get close to understanding it again...and then I'd lose it. I just kept going back and forth. I'm pretty smart, but Math has a way of messing with me, anxiety or no anxiety, it's just one of those things that I only sometimes do well at. I can add GREAT, but that's because I was always adding up my calories in my 20's and 30's. But as for not being able to do Math quickly enough when people are putting pressure on me or waiting for an answer, I'd have to say no, only because (luckily) Math doesn't come up too much in my life anymore. I do, however, sometimes get a "blank mind" when I know somebody is waiting for an answer, esp. somebody I'm nervous around, even cute guys. Yep, after all these years, I still have trouble talking to the cuties, even though they have no prob. talking to me.