Migraine

Shanuchhetri13

Hi Guys,

I am exactly one month away from my test date and in the past 2-3 months, I have experienced few worst migraines of my life. Seen general physicians, neurologists, tried many medications and regularly exercised over the past 2-3 months, but, nothing worked. I feel helpless at times and I think my stress is not because of the ‘test-coming-soon’ factor, but because of the fact that I am not getting my desired score on any of my PTs so far.

I have been studying for LSAT for a while now. From online courses (tried 3 of them) to private tutoring (advise-in solutions), I have tried all to hit 170 or up. But now, it feels sort of impossible and I am terrified. For my LR sections, I never get to attempt all the questions, but my accuracy is decent (19-20 correct when 21 attempted on average). For game, I only miss a point or two. For RC, I can mostly do only 3 passages (with 3-4 incorrect).

I am losing sleep over all this and my migraines are getting worst. Any helpful tips?

Beast Mode

Hi there,

Have you tried incorporating meditation or some breathing exercises? You might be experiencing burnout. Also, even if it's difficult to not focus on your desired score on PTs, remind your self this is just practice and what matters most is what you score on test day. Take breaks and stay hydrated. I hope you feel better and best of luck!

studyingandrestudying

I vote for taking some time to rest. Studying will still be there and you'll come back stronger.

LivingThatLSATdream

97% of applicants don't score a 170+. I'm not saying that you can't be one of those who do, but you should give yourself some grace. Your LSAT score does not define who you are. Instead of focusing on such a specific score, why don't you focus on getting 2 or 3 more questions right in LR or nailing LG with -0 or answering the 3 RC passage questions you get to perfectly? If you are struggling with a certain question type, focus on that, and then work towards not missing any of those questions on the next PT. Good luck, and definitely get some rest!

Shanuchhetri13

@"Beast Mode" thank you, I think I will try meditation as soon as I get a little better.

Shanuchhetri13

@lsatplaylist - I know I should, it is just scary not to study for a while.

Shanuchhetri13

@LivingThatLSATdream - thank you for that response, I think I really needed it. For the past few weeks, I have been doing everything that you mentioned and that question-specific approach worked really well for me. I think timing is one big issue for me both in RC and LR.

LivingThatLSATdream

@Shanuchhetri13 said:
For the past few weeks, I have been doing everything that you mentioned

Try focusing on one thing at a time. See some success, get encouraged, then tackle the next thing. Timing is an issue for most test takers. This test is a BEAST and it is easy to compare yourself to other people on the forums. But this journey is your own and you will find your own path to success. Your health is more important than your score! I've had to remind myself of this many times.

stratocaster

You can only try your best and whatever happens, happens. Worrying too much will be detrimental. Try focusing on something else when you aren't studying, like take up a fun new hobby or anything that is an enjoyable distraction. There's always another LSAT, so even if you don't get the score you want this time around there will be another opportunity to try again.

drbrown2

@Shanuchhetri13 I’m sorry you’re going through some debilitating health issues right now. Focus on your health full time and practice when you feel well.

I know you’ve seen doctors and specialists, but do you wear glasses or contacts? I was experiencing migraines that I assume were from eye strain, and I haven’t had a migraine in the 2 years since I got glasses for the first time in my life.

Also make sure you aren’t having any dental issues.

There are many things that could be causing your health problems but I thought I would take a couple of guesses based on issues I’ve had that led to bad headaches in the past.

I really hope you feel better. When you feel you are well enough to study, don’t focus on your score. Practice getting your timing down. Your accuracy may temporarily dip but with enough practice and review you’ll hopefully finish every section and have a path to your target score.

Shanuchhetri13

@stratocaster - Thank you. I think you are right. I have not done anything except LSAT, eating, sleeping and gym for like more than two months now.

Shanuchhetri13

@drbrown2 - Thank you so much. I do feel a little better now. I don't think I have any dental issues, but I think I should get my vision checked. I used to wear glasses in high school and so, it might be the case that my vision is getting weak again.
Thanks a ton.

drbrown2

@Shanuchhetri13 said:
I think I should get my vision checked. I used to wear glasses in high school and so, it might be the case that my vision is getting weak again. Thanks a ton.

I personally have astigmatism, so my glasses allow my eyes to relax and I have not had a single headache since the correction (as I said, 2 years). The constant eye strain was not something I noticed because vision changes are gradual and I had never worn glasses before. As students we spend a good deal of time staring at text and screens. After wearing my glasses all day and taking them off, my eyes immediately try to adjust and I notice they feel heavy and obviously my vision is blurred. So for me it wasn't just about having clearer vision, it was about relieving the eye strain.