Attitude

• Begin by knowing that math is hard work for most people. Some are born gifted in math, but they are very rare. Everyone else---engineers, scientists, teachers---has had to work at it and keep working at it to stay sharp.
  
  

Start With What You Know

• Anyone who's been through grade school has some math skills. You can add and subtract, multiply and divide simple numbers. If you've gone further, great, but if not, just identify the skills you do have. If you have a hard time doing math in your head, use a calculator. Create simple problems for yourself that you already know how to solve. The goal is to create confidence.
  
  

Identify Problem Areas

• While you may be telling yourself all math is hard, chances are, you're simply stuck in a certain area, like geometry or some aspect of algebra. If you can narrow down what you're having trouble with, you're halfway there. Math is such a large subject that everyone, even expert mathematicians, have difficulties in some areas.
  
  

Find a Good Tutor

• Good one-on-one sessions with a person knowledgeable in math, who is also understanding and patient, can make all the difference. She can help you find trouble spots and create ways of working your way out of them. If no one in your immediate circle is math-savvy, online resources, such as tutor.com, can help you find tutors who will work with you either over the web or with in-home visits.
  
  

Study Buddies

• If you're taking a math course, ask others in the class if they want to start a study group. Meet somewhere you can study with few distractions, like a library. When you discuss a problem with someone, you're learning or validating what you know; either way, it's a positive step.
  
  

Practice

• Set a schedule you can handle and stick to it. Ask a friend or family member to nudge you if you backslide.
  
  

Go Slowly and Build Confidence.

• While you're anxious, allow yourself the luxury of going slowly. Work gradually toward more difficult problems. When you've developed confidence, you can work harder and for longer stretches.