How to reverse the effects of math trauma

Middle School and High school can be a difficult time for many students. There's a lot of pressure to do well academically, and math class can be particularly daunting. For some students, this anxiety manifests as "math trauma." 

What is Math Trauma?

This condition can occur when a student has a negative experience in math class - such as feeling humiliated or getting a bad grade - which leads to a fear of mathematics. Math anxiety can cause students to avoid math altogether, leading to further setbacks. 

Math anxiety and math trauma can lead to a number of problems in adulthood. For example, people who are anxious about math may shy away from personal finances, including budgeting and investing, which can have lifelong repercussions. In addition, math anxiety can lead to social anxiety, as people may avoid social situations where they might need to use math, such as going out to dinner with friends.

Math trauma survivors often say that they wish they had gotten help sooner. If you or someone you know is struggling with math anxiety, there are resources available to help.

While not everyone who struggles in math class will develop math trauma, the condition is fairly common. In fact, studies suggest that up to 30% of high school students are survivors of math trauma. However, it's important to remember that just because someone struggles with math doesn't mean they're not good at it. With the right support, survivors of math trauma can overcome their anxiety and succeed in mathematics.

How to overcome Math Trauma

Being good at math takes understanding, practice and a little bit of fun. Recognizing patterns is a critical part of understanding math and after understanding comes practice. A daily math routine with increasing difficulty is essential for students to maintain their skills and become faster and more accurate with their computations. Making math fun by incorporating games or puzzles can help students stay interested and excited about learning. 

If you fear your student is at risk of suffering from math trauma, the best solution is boost their confidence in the subject by working with a tutor.

Working with a trusted math tutor can give students the individualized attention they need to gain confidence and excel in math. A tutor can provide one-on-one attention and assistance, target areas of weakness, and help students get ahead in advanced subjects. Individual math tutors are great at offering encouragement, support, and keeping students motivated. For students who are struggling in math, a tutor can make all the difference.

If someone you know is struggling with math, math anxiety, or math trauma, please reach out to schedule a free consultation with our professional and engaging staff of tutors. We love math! We think math is fun! And we love to share our passion with students to help them overcome their math anxiety.