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College v. university

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Posted 3/4/2013 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
Hello,

I'm a fourth year university student in a top Canadian university with fibromyalgia, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, GERD and IBS stemming from my Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

It's always been my dream to go to graduate school and get my masters in counseling psychology. However in my fourth year, I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed. My health has been getting worse and worse and I feel like I cannot keep up with the course load.

I am at my wits end. I have depleted my physical, mental, and emotional resources and cannot continue. My mind has been so foggy over the past few weeks from over working myself that I can sit infront of a computer for hours and get absolutely nothing done (literally). I'm hopelessly depressed, constantly fatigued, have no social life at all, am drowning in debt and have no money since I cannot work part time.

I am feeling like graduate school is no longer an option for me. As much as it breaks my heart to say it, I simply will not be able to keep up with the load if things do not improve. I am considering now dropping out and going to college for social service work.

I'm hoping that some of you can give me some advice in terms of what my best options would be given my disability.

What I like about university is that I only have to be in class two days a week, and the assignments are faily spread out. A friend of mine is college has to be in class every day. However, I know college will be easier and will be much easier than the education I am used to (philosophy specialist).

Any advice would be hugely appreciated :)

Thanks!
Posted 3/4/2013 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
Universities have resources to help you, I suggest you talk to a counselor and your faculty adviser to get some advice from someone who will have a much better idea of your situation and health. Talk to your doctor, maybe you have other things you can try. Right now I'd apply for both options because things may have changed in six months and you don't want to close any doors. Do what you can to improve your health, eat well, sleep well, get some moderate exercise. Take care of yourself as much as you can.

Joy
Posted 3/4/2013 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
The Canadian system is different than the American system. Since I am familiar with the system here in US, my advice may be wrong.

You need a break. Can you put off doing your master's for a year? It's not ideal, but even if your admit to uni is on a time sensitive schedule, you can certainly get s medical extension.

You might have to do some judicial dropping now, and delay graduation. Yes, it bites. Go to your uni's health unit and/or student support and see what they might recommend. Even if you have to drop a class or two, you can still finish.

Only you can decide about changing courses/schools. It doesn't sound as if the work is hard for you now so much as you are worn out mentally. Adding a more time-intensive schedule may not be in your best interests at present.
Posted 3/5/2013 10:44 AM (GMT 0)
tara,
I am attending and trying to finish up classes. I am attending a state college also. It has taken a bit longer for me than it should, because of my fibro. I have days where I can sit in class all day and do what I need to, and other days in class for an hour and I am miserable ! It can be pain, or the fog sets in and I look at "Name" and think, crap I should really know this answer! Or so fatigued that I just want to crawl under the computer table and take a small nap. Sometimes it is just miserable all over. I know the feeling of sitting in front of the computer and accomplishing nothing. I learned to lessen my load as much as possible without quitting. I do question many times, how will I work if I can't sit in class for a full day, but have put that thought away (thanks to my amazing husband's support)... well at least put it away for the last few days LOL..

The few things that I am doing to help. I take a nap when my body says nap. The things I can work on at home, I work on when I feel good at home so I don't get too far behind. (It kind of reminds me of when you have a new baby and you work your schedule around the baby... nap when the "baby" naps etc"). I try to muddle through class on my bad days some days I can and some days I just leave. Also I know my eating habits suck especially when I do not feel good. So I looked into meal replacement shakes. some are not as healthy, but I am doing better keeping shakes around so when I feel blah I have them made and ready to drink. I think it is helping me rather than not eating or grabbing crap cause it is easier. I have been doing a shake (from GNC) twice a day for almost 2 wks.
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