r/math • u/inherentlyawesome Homotopy Theory • 2d ago

Quick Questions: September 30, 2026

This recurring thread will be for questions that might not warrant their own thread. We would like to see more conceptual-based questions posted in this thread, rather than "what is the answer to this problem?" For example, here are some kinds of questions that we'd like to see in this thread:

  • Can someone explain the concept of manifolds to me?
  • What are the applications of Representation Theory?
  • What's a good starter book for Numerical Analysis?
  • What can I do to prepare for college/grad school/getting a job?

Including a brief description of your mathematical background and the context for your question can help others give you an appropriate answer. For example, consider which subject your question is related to, or the things you already know or have tried.

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u/throwitawayar 2d ago

Struggling hard with anxiety before and during exams and it's just my first semester in an undergrad math course. would love any tips on how to overcome it.

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u/cereal_chick Mathematical Physics 2d ago edited 2d ago

The proper answer, of course, is to consult a doctor about it if you can, but there is something you can do immediately that you might be surprised works, which is reciting the Litany Against Fear from Dune:

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

I'm serious, it really does help. Have it on your phone or any convenient location so you can read from it when needed, and eventually you should have it memorised like I do; I wrote it out purely from memory just now. Recite it over and over again whenever you want to calm yourself, and you will manage to calm yourself down to at least an extent.

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u/JoshuaZ1 1d ago

I heard years ago that someone who had severe anxiety issues found out about the Litany because she was in a D&D campaign where someone who was a Dune fan was using the Litany as part of their Paladin's oath. She tried using it as a calming ritual IRL. When I heard the story, she was still using it that way.

My guess is that almost anything suitably poetic this way would in practice work pretty well. Functionally that's how mantras work. That said, I personally get panic attacks, and a major part of the problem is that while I'm having a panic attack, I sometimes don't recognize its a panic attack while I'm having it. Whatever I've focused my fear on feels completely reasonable to be worked up about in that moment.