SM roleplay means to you q3

Did your answer cover any of these points?

My mind goes blank? I say the wrong thing? I don’t understand? I panic? The assessor thinks I’m doing badly? The imagination is a powerful tool and we can all create a vast array of potential scenarios, most of which are highly unlikely to actually happen. To identify a realistic worst-case scenario and to accept it, is very liberating. It’s you telling your mind, ‘this is the worst thing that can happen, and it’s actually OK’. Get to this level of acceptance and the fear has lost its sting; if you don’t mind, there is little incentive to feel anxious. Try it out, imagine your worst fear and ask yourself, ‘if this happened, would it really be the end of the world?’

In terms of any of these options, none of them are that bad.

• If your mind goes blank, you refer back to your notes in front of you;
• If you ‘say the wrong thing’ it won’t matter, as there are no set right or wrong answers, you just need to justify your position. Most people will look back and think they could have phrased a certain point differently, but the assessors look for so many different things that one or two poorly thought out comments may not make a huge amount of difference to your overall results;
• If you don’t understand, use the role-player to ask questions until you do – that is what they are there for;
• If you panic, take a few deep breaths. The role-player will be very experienced and will recognise you need some time to gather your thoughts; they will fill the space until you have regained your composure. Or at worst, you will need to halt the exercise. Everyone will be very supportive and will help you as much as they can.
• And as for what the assessors will think: well, you won’t know what they are thinking anyway, and besides, they will be so busy writing that they won’t have time to think about much at all at this stage!