Advice ( and pretty much just someone to vent to) needed

Hello Everyone,

I'm trying to figure out the best next move for the situation that I'm in. I feel completely hopeless and so stressed out that I'm causing myself more pain and anxiety.

I work full time and go to school full time. My school is 2 hours away from where I live and I drive up there twice a week. My advisor made my schedule to where I only go one day and do most of the other classes online to make it easier for me. As of yesterday I have been scheduled for 5 classes 3 times a week with 2 online classes, but wasn't asked for my consent. I just went back to school after being withdrawn for a semester because of my Fibro. This is my second quarter back and I'm trying really hard, but between work and school I can't handle the stress and hardly have the energy to do both. I have to work to pay for school and I have to go to school to get out of the job I have because it is too much for me. To make matters worse, my Fibro is getting worse and the doctor I have can't help me out. I've been in and out of the hospital and urgent care and have gotten no results. My test results all come back normal and I have a list of new tests to do, and due to my insurance, the referrals to specialists take up to 3 weeks to process. I'm so overwhelmed. What should I do? I know I have to give something up, but what should I give up? This is so upsetting, all I can do is cry because I don't know what to do anymore.

Any help or advice would be appreciated, Thank you
I hope you are all in a better boat than I am at the moment =/

Thanks Maggie.

Just having someone be here is a great help and sorry for wearing you out lol. I've been given some mild pain killers and a muscle relaxer, but they don't help like they used to. I want to start seeing a counselor but don't know what type to see. Are there special Fibro counselors? I hope I can find that medium soon, because my boat is starting to sink. Thank you.

*Jaden,

I've been considering doing just online classes. I major in Photography, so it's a little harder to do all online classes. I have a full scholarship that pays everything, so my class plan is predetermined. My counselors are very understanding, but the one responsible for my schedule isn't returning my calls and is refusing to help. I want to just quit, but I've put 2 years into this and can't give it up, I love it too much. Even if it takes 6 years then so be it.

Also, schedule may be determined by core class availability. If intro to developing (as an example) is only offered m/w/f in the spring semester, there is little you can do.

Seriously, dean of students or health center.

Trust me, I understand about special situations, that's kinda the point of my uni.

Honestly, sounds like a goof, a scheduling oops. Unless some bean counter has become involved and saw what they thought was a too light schedule. Sadly, due to the fiscal environment, administrators are cutting corners and packing classes.

1. Deal with your advisor. S/he may be able to reverse the damage, or at least explain what's going on. If that doesn't work...

2. registrar, and the advisor who made the changes to your schedule. This may, or may not, require a trip to Financial Aid. TAKE YOUR PAPERWORK. If that doesn't work...

3. Whatever the entity is at your campus that deals with issues with students. It is called various things at various places, and depending on
the political climate, can have some serious power. Dean of students,
provost of student affairs, maybe even student health (some places have that as the primary intervention).

I sincerely hope it is a big mistake. And I hope this advice is helpful. Dealt with a similar issue Monday, which took me fifteen minutes to straighten out. She was in a panic, because she had been trying to find me all day. I was in meetings, and was just stopping back in before heading out to yet another meeting. So, if you don't get an immediate reply, that is usually why, especially at the beginning of the semester.

Speaking from the POV of the professor, they don't mean to give people a hard time. It is just with anywhere from 50 to 200 students each semester, do you know how many excuses they hear?

My standard response is-you need to come to my office, and have a chat. If you have paperwork, you need to produce it there. Otherwise, I am not in the business of evaluating reasons why you do not have the work done. I do not excuse absences, and do not evaluate reasons why you miss class. Everyone has three absences, use them wisely. I am in the business of teaching you about -fill in the blank-

Some professors are hand-holders; others are more about the tough love.

Student support services (or disability services) will work well with you, but you need the documentation. And some schools, believe it or not, do not have service program for students with conditions that place them in a disabled category (either medical, learning disability, or what have you).