mental-health/anxiety

My heart races and I feel sick before every test

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My heart pounds so hard before a test I can hear it, my hands go cold, and sometimes I feel like I'll throw up. It's been happening since seventh grade started and my grades are dropping because I blank out. My mom booked a doctor, she thinks it's a stomach bug.

Last updated: July 2026

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What this can feel like

The night before a test my heart goes so fast I can hear it in my ears, and my hands get cold and shaky. Sometimes I have to run to the bathroom because I feel like I'm going to throw up. It's been happening since seventh grade started and my grades are actually dropping, because I blank out even on stuff I studied. I didn't say anything for a long time, because in my family you're supposed to just try harder, and I didn't want my parents to think I was making excuses. But my mom noticed me skipping breakfast three mornings in a row and asked what was wrong, and it kind of came out. She thought I had a stomach bug and made a doctor appointment. I don't know how to tell the doctor it's not really my stomach, it's more like my whole body panics before anything at school. I keep practicing what to say in my head so I don't chicken out.

What's a first step I can take?

If words are hard, we could figure out one sentence you could say to the doctor. It's okay if you don't know why it happens; you just have to describe what you feel.

Common questions

When your brain reads a test as a threat, it switches on the body's alarm system, so you get a racing heart, cold hands, and a queasy stomach even when you know the material. It's a physical reaction, not a sign you're unprepared or weak.

You can keep it simple and honest: 'My stomach and heart go crazy before tests, and I think it might be nerves, not a bug.' That one sentence gives the doctor exactly what they need to help.

Some nerves are normal, but when it's happening a lot and starting to affect your grades or eating, it's worth talking about now instead of waiting. Getting help early usually makes it easier, not harder.

Related

Say it back

How would you explain this to someone you love?

Two or three sentences, just as you’d say it. Gale reflects back what you focused on — a mirror, not a quiz.

If things feel heavy, a person is available anytime — call or text 988.

Talk to a clinician

Gale can help you find a clinician in your state and request a visit.

Find care →

When it's more than test nerves

  • —Feeling so panicked you can't breathe or think
  • —Not being able to go to school for days because of it
  • —Not eating because your stomach is always upset
  • —Any thoughts that you don't want to be here

If you ever start to feel like you don't want to be here, or you're scared for your safety, tell a trusted adult right away. Call or text 988 - the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and 24/7. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.

This is general information for young people and the adults who care about them, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you're worried about yourself or someone else, talk to a trusted adult, your doctor, or a school counselor.

References

  1. 1. (2022). Age at onset of mental disorders worldwide: large-scale meta-analysis of 192 epidemiological studies. Molecular Psychiatry. linkMost mental health conditions first emerge by the mid-teens, so noticing signs early matters.

1 sources, numbered by first appearance. General health information, not medical advice. AI-assisted editorial content — citations link their sources. Editorial policy

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