This is my first post, though I constantly read this forum while awaiting my results for my last and thankfully final attempt at Step 1.
I hope what I write will give others comfort since I feel like this forum definitely comforted me at times.
I have serious test anxiety and while doing fine in school and in clinical situations, the longer board exam was a killer.
Before my first attempt, I did not take any prep course and only reviewed materials on my own. Prior to my second attempt I took a course geared toward people with testing anxiety problems and just testing problems in general. I failed the second time after taking that course but I feel a lot of it had to do with not taking enough time to integrate what they had taught me, and therefore I still freaked on the second attempt.
Finally, I took a LOA from my school before my 3rd attempt and used what I had learned from the prep course in reviewing the material again. I did well over 8,000 questions by the time I had tried the test for the third time.
I also took a beta blocker during the practice tests, sometimes while studying, and did hypnosis and massage. After that, I was able to improve my score by 42 points. Some will say my score is not spectacular but I really don't care about that. What I do care about is that I have found a method that works for me in dealing with these board exams, and that I didn't give up.
It really is possible to find what will work for you and to pass these tests. I also think that getting someone to review my testing methods, study issues, and test anxiety issues was critical to my current succes and my future success. And of course, reading this forum really helps for those post test sleepless nights
Good luck to those yet to take the test and thanks to all of you who posted your experiences and consequently, helped me through these difficult times!

Congrats on your achievement and for not giving up.

Congratulations! Well done!

Having dealt with paralyzing test anxiety, myself, I think that I have an inkling of what your journey has entailed. CONGRATS on your determination, your disciplined hard work, and your final wonderful success! I hope that I can get there, myself, someday. Great job, OTRA!

__________________
MS (Health Sciences) - Brigham Young University @ Provo, UT
BA (German Language & Literature) - University of Oregon @ Eugene, OR
Navy Hospital Corpsman (Fleet Marine Force) - 2nd Marine Division / 4th Marine Division

"Pains nor toils nor trials heeding, and in heaven's own time succeeding..."
Wm. E. Hickson (1803-1870)

hey congratulations on passing! P=MD!

__________________

thank you for sharing your experience.
Congrats on PASSING with a nice score
Keep it up for step2

__________________
Moderator: USMLE Step 1 Forums, USMLE Step 2 Forums,USMLE Step 3 Forums.

Some day I will be the next Goljan/Daugherty/fysher for IMG's all over the world.

congrats for getting over a tough period. it gives hope for the people who has deficiencies.

__________________
Posterior Fornix!

Me fail English? That's unpossible. - Ralph Wiggum