The Dangers of Drugs

Using drugs (prescription or recreational) specifically to prepare for and take a big test is definitely self-defeating. (And if they’re
illegal drugs, you can end up with a bigger problem than the SHSAT on your hands.) Except for the drugs that occur naturally in your
brain, every drug has major drawbacks—and a false sense of security is only one of them.

You may have heard that popping uppers helps you study by keeping you alert. If they’re illegal, definitely forget about it. They
wouldn’t really work anyway, since amphetamines make it hard to retain information. Mild stimulants, such as coffee, cola, or over-
the-counter caffeine pills can sometimes help as you study, since they keep you alert. On the downside, they can also lead to
agitation, restlessness, and insomnia. Some people can drink a pot of high-octane coffee and sleep like a baby. Others have one cup
and start to vibrate. It all depends on your tolerance for caffeine. Remember, a little anxiety is a good thing. The adrenaline that gets
pumped into your bloodstream helps you stay alert and think more clearly. But too much anxiety, and you can’t think straight at all.

THE RELAXATION PARADOX

Forcing relaxation is like asking yourself to flap your arms and fly. You can’t do it, and every push and prod only gets you

more frustrated. Relaxation is something you don’t work at. You simply let it happen. Think about it. When was the last time

you tried to force yourself to go to sleep and it worked?

Instead, go for endorphins—the “natural morphine.” Endorphins have no side effects and they’re free—you’ve already got them in
your brain. It just takes some exercise to release them. Running around on the basketball court, bicycling, swimming, aerobics,
power walking—these activities cause endorphins to occupy certain spots in your brain’s neural synapses. In addition, exercise
develops staying power and increases the oxygen transfer to your brain. Go into the test naturally.