Dr. Meera Patel
Educational Psychologist & NEET MentorJanuary 8, 2025
15 min read
"It was 2 AM, and Arjun called me, sobbing. 'Ma'am, I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see NEET questions floating in front of me. What if I forget everything? What if I disappoint my parents?'
That call changed everything. Today, Arjun is a successful doctor, but more importantly, he's mentally strong. In 8 years of counseling NEET aspirants, I've learned that the biggest battle isn't with Biology or Physics - it's with our own minds."
- Dr. Meera Patel, Educational Psychologist
If you're reading this at 2 AM because you can't sleep, or if your heart races every time someone mentions NEET, you're not alone. Last month, I received 247 messages from students asking the same question: "How do I stop being so anxious about NEET?"
The truth is, some anxiety before NEET is normal - even healthy. It shows you care. But when anxiety starts controlling your life, stealing your sleep, and making you doubt your abilities, it's time to take action.
Let me tell you about Kavya. Brilliant student, consistently scored 600+ in mock tests, but every time she entered the exam hall, her hands would tremble so much she couldn't hold the pen properly. Sound familiar?
Or take Rohit, who would spend 14 hours studying but then lie awake all night worrying if it was enough. He'd wake up exhausted, which affected his performance, which increased his anxiety - a vicious cycle.
Here's what I told Kavya that changed her life: "Your anxiety isn't your enemy. It's your brain trying to protect you. But it's using outdated software - fight-or-flight responses designed for physical dangers, not exams."
The breakthrough came when she stopped fighting her anxiety and started working with it. Instead of thinking "I'm so anxious, I'll fail," she learned to think "I'm alert and ready. My brain is preparing me for something important."
Old Thought: "What if I forget everything during the exam?"
New Thought: "I've prepared well. If I blank out, I'll take a deep breath and trust my preparation."
Old Thought: "Everyone else seems more confident than me."
New Thought: "Confidence isn't about appearing perfect. It's about trusting my preparation and doing my best."
Old Thought: "If I don't clear NEET, my life is over."
New Thought: "NEET is one path to my goal. If this doesn't work out, I'll find another way."
I developed this method after working with hundreds of anxious students. It's simple, practical, and it works. Here's how Arjun (remember him from the intro?) used it to transform his mindset:
Arjun used to worry about everything - what questions would come, who else was taking the exam, what his relatives would say. I taught him the Control Circle technique.
In your control: Your study schedule, your revision, your sleep, your nutrition, your effort.
Not in your control: The difficulty of questions, other students' performance, your parents' expectations.
"Once I stopped wasting energy on things I couldn't control, I had so much more mental space for actual preparation!" - Arjun
Stop telling yourself "I shouldn't be anxious" or "Other students don't feel this way." Those thoughts only make anxiety worse.
Instead, try this: "I notice I'm feeling anxious right now. That's okay. It shows I care about this exam. I can feel anxious AND still perform well."
"When I stopped fighting my anxiety and just accepted it was there, it actually became less intense." - Kavya
This sounds too simple to work, but it's based on solid science. When you're anxious, you breathe shallow and fast, which sends panic signals to your brain.
The 4-7-8 Technique:
• Inhale for 4 counts
• Hold for 7 counts
• Exhale for 8 counts
• Repeat 4 times
"I did this breathing exercise before every mock test and eventually before NEET. It became my superpower." - Rohit
Your brain is constantly talking to you. The question is: Is it being a supportive coach or a harsh critic?
Harsh Critic: "You're so stupid, you'll never pass."
Supportive Coach: "That was a tough question. Let's try a different approach."
Start noticing your inner voice. When it's being mean, ask yourself: "Would I talk to my best friend this way?" If not, change the tone.
Let me share some study techniques that specifically help reduce anxiety while improving performance:
Perfectionist students often study for 12 hours but feel like they've achieved nothing. Instead, try this:
Example: 'Complete 20 physics problems, revise 2 biology chapters, take 1 chemistry test'
No guilt, no 'I should do more.' You've done enough.
Finished a difficult chapter? Do a little happy dance. Seriously.
"This technique helped me stop the endless cycle of 'I haven't done enough.' I actually studied less but with much more focus and confidence." - Priya, NEET 2024 topper
The weeks before NEET are crucial for building unshakeable confidence. Here's what top performers do differently:
Every night for 2 weeks before NEET, spend 10 minutes visualizing your success:
Visualize this in detail:
• Walking into the exam hall feeling calm and confident
• Looking at the first question and knowing the answer immediately
• Your pen moving smoothly across the OMR sheet
• Walking out of the hall with a smile on your face
• Getting your results and seeing your target score
"I thought visualization was just hippie nonsense until I tried it. It actually made me more confident on exam day because I'd already 'experienced' success in my mind." - Amit, AIR 250
Put your pen down. It's okay to take 30 seconds to reset.
Or just take 3 deep, slow breaths.
This brings you back to the present moment.
Or use whatever positive phrase works for you.
Don't immediately go back to the question that triggered the anxiety.
Let me share some real transformations I've witnessed:
Remember Arjun from the beginning? He was having panic attacks during mock tests. His parents were considering postponing NEET by a year.
We worked together for 3 months using the CALM method. The breakthrough came when he stopped trying to eliminate anxiety completely and started managing it instead.
Result: Not only did he clear NEET with 589 marks, but he also became a peer counselor, helping other anxious students. Today, he's in his 3rd year of MBBS and runs anxiety management workshops for medical students.
"Dr. Meera taught me that courage isn't the absence of fear - it's feeling afraid and doing your best anyway."
Kavya's hands would shake so much during exams that she couldn't fill OMR sheets properly. She scored 580+ in practice tests but only 420 in her first NEET attempt due to anxiety.
We focused on two things: accepting her nervousness instead of fighting it, and developing a pre-exam routine that made her feel grounded and confident.
Result: Second attempt - 612 marks. Now she's studying at AIIMS and credits her success to learning how to work WITH her nervous system, not against it.
"I realized my shaking hands weren't a sign of weakness - they were a sign that I cared deeply about my dreams."
You don't have to do this alone. Here's how to build a support system that actually helps:
Someone who celebrates your wins and supports you during tough times
Share this article with them. They want to help but may not know how.
Avoid toxic competitive groups. Look for supportive, motivational spaces.
A counselor or therapist isn't a sign of weakness - it's a sign of wisdom.
After 8 years of helping students overcome NEET anxiety, here's what I want you to remember:
Your anxiety doesn't define you. Your response to it does.
You are more resilient than you think, more prepared than you feel, and more capable than you know.
NEET is not just testing your academic knowledge - it's also testing your mental strength. And that's a skill you can develop.
I believe in you. Your dreams are valid. Your effort matters. And your success story is waiting to be written.
Start implementing these techniques today. Remember, building mental strength is like building physical strength - it takes consistent practice.
Begin with just one technique from the CALM method and practice it for a week. Then gradually add more tools to your mental toolkit.