Starting college next week

KilbarrackBlows

Well i decided this year id get myself back normality
i was pritty depressed for a around 2-3 years i was held up in a armed robery and i had post traumatic stress and had
sever anxiety / panic attacks and couldnt go anywhere
or keep down food but ive got myself back to a normal state
and i decided this year was the year i put it all behind me and move on.

But im just nervious il fall back into the whole panic attack thing again
im more self cauncious about people asking what ive been doing for the
past few years i use to be a student in this college before all that happend to me and droped out over it and never told anyone or informed the college.
Im dreading if i run into anyone who was there when i was.

Im already feeling anxious at the thought of being asked to go out with
class mates to a pub/club like students usualy do i still tend to avoid them
unless its a week night in a pub so its practicly empty but still even thats a rarity i dont want people to think im just some prick who doesnt wanna mix with them i could just say i got a anxiety problem but that always bring up questions i dont want to answer ...

Bleh i dunno just felt like typing it up .

Drift

Hey Kilbarrack I think if I were you I wouldn't bother trying to hide anything about what happened. Good people will recognise that you've been through a hard time and will think no less of you because of it. You wouldn't have to go into too much detail. If they ask you what you were up to for the last 2 years you can just say that 2 years ago you were help up in an armed robbery and it had a bad effect on you so you needed some time off from college to get your head straight. I don't see any reason why people would have a problem with that.

And as for the pub/club thing you could always head out with them early in the night when the pubs are pretty quiet and then disappear off home a bit later on when it gets busy ... that way you socialise with your friends but yet avoid the big crowds. You can also socialise other ways too like the cinema, just hanging out around the college etc. I've a feeling though that if you take it in small steps with the pubs and crowds and get to know a good bunch of friends in college the anxiety attacks in crowded pubs will not be an issue you'll be too busy enjoying the college life.

doctor evil

Been through a very similar thing with the Depression and sabatical from education. Have you been to anyone to talk to?. I found Cognitive Therapy helped a lot with me.

Don`t worry about college, I`m starting next week myself with a one year course. Its a great mix of people.

KilbarrackBlows

oh ive done everything from hypno therapy to cognative therapy or something over the past 3 years.
Im pritty much over the anxiety thing altho i have kinda stoped taken my med that helped which was really thick of me especialy when im finaly going back to reality doh.Its not that big of a deal for me anymore im just haven pre college jitters now i think im just more paronoid about haven a panic attack in front of people i dont know i just need to shut up n deal with it bleh i just need to put it out of my head cause i know il probaly been fine after the first few days.

stupid anxiety *waves fist at anxiety* dam j00

Dr Lektroluv

OP- I have a feeling you are gonna do great.

I am in a similar situation to yourself regarding college. Dropped out of my final year in January without telling lecturers/college/student/anyone. Because I was in final year I was in contact with lecturers/supervisors a bit more than usual, I never informed them I was dropping out and completely ignored their emails etc.

Now I am going back to repeat my final year in 2 weeks. I am gonna look like a complete plonker and it will be awkward but I believe it'll be a "5 minute wonder". After I see them/talk to them/etc, 5 minutes later it'll be back to normal, like nothing happened.

Some advice a friend gave me was tell them it was for "personal reasons". I 100% guarantee you they won't pry for more informaton. Good luck with college - you know you can do it..

randylonghorn

Guys, a good thing to remember is that lots of students drop out, some permanently. Some because they discover they're doing the wrong course, some because of family or personal problems, some for financial reasons, some because they're just not able to balance social life with study and panic when faced with exams, or flunk them ... and plenty of other reasons. Some come back and complete, some don't ... both of you have sorted yourselves out, and are ready to finish what you started, and you should be proud of that, not embarrassed.

OP, there's no need to give people any more info than you feel comfortable with. Just say you took some time out, and you're back to finish off now. As to the pubs / clubs, why not just say you get a bit claustrophobic in crowds ... might not be the exact truth, but it's as near as makes no difference. If you are sociable with people during the day, and maybe go out with them the odd time earlier in the week when it's quieter, they are unlikely to brand you as stuck up.

Best of luck to you both!

the_syco

OP, if you're doing a different course, you can say that the old course "wasn't for you", etc.