Depression and Exams

LegacyUser

Going anon for this..
I was recently diagnosed with depression in the last few weeks and I'm finding life in general extremely difficult more so than it used to be. I was put on anti-depressants there a week or two ago and have being going to councelling which I found to be extremely difficult. Now its comming up to exam time I just don't know what to do as I've fallen so far behind in college there is literally no catching up! As well as that I can't afford to fail and lose my place in college next year...So what do I do from here?
I was just wondering has anyone else been in a similar situation or has any advice on what I should do cos I just don't know anymore

Denerick

Take a breather. Its never as bad as you think.

Secondly, get your ass into the library and look at the introductory texts. Spend a lot of time at the basics. If your worried about not doing well then you should be aiming for a pass, and tbh, with a smart study plan a pass shouldn't be too hard to get at college level. All you need to do is read the right books. Talk to your coursehead for a little heads up and extra help - you'd be surprised how sympathetic academic types can actually be. And good luck.

LegacyUser

Go to the head of your faculty and explain to them what your situation is, and say that you feel incredibly under prepared due to being off sick with your depression and would it be possible in light of your circumstances to get a deferral? In our college I know that you can get a deferral for those reasons and at least you'd have the entire summer to catch up on all that you've missed.

Good luck.

Monkey61

I'd echo the above mentioned advice. Go and talk to your tutor or department head. No doubt if worst comes to worst you can sit exam repeats at the end of the summer.

Don't forget as well that anti depressents take about two months to kick in properly anyway, so you will begin to feel better in time. Good luck with the counselling as well - it will take time, but will eventually help!

LegacyUser

Hey OP. Im in exactly the same situation as you. Ive suffered from depression on and off for years, college has always felt the brunt of it too. Thankfully in the last month Ive come around after been on anti-depressants for most the year. Ive got 4 exams to repeat in August and 4 to do for May. First thing you should do is go to the department head and explain you were absent and why? They can be very understanding. Then go to each individual lecturer and explain to them and see what they can do for ya. One of my lecturers gave me all the notes and stayed back one afternoon to help me (i was amazed). Then make out a plan and see what your realistic targets are for results, concentrate on your weak subjects. Just get in that library and force yourself up everyday and do your best.

This is what I have done for the last 2 yrs and it looks like im doing it again this year but hopefully on new meds combined with counselling I'll be able to attend college in full for my last year.

Good luck OP

InReality

i've had depression loads of times. My advice would be to make you mental health the priority. College a very distant second.
One of the really annoying side-effects/symptoms of depression is a feeling a terrible urgency and panic to making "life-changing" decisions when you have 0% ability to make such decisions

to talk about this stuff go to an aware meeting.
www.aware.ie

thedeadpoet

Personally this'll be rushed, but I was in your precise scenario once.

My advice to you is to contact your Faculty Administrator and explain to them what you've said here. They're there to help you. In my case, I approached the FA, explained that due to medical issues I will not be re-registering for the second year of my three year course (but that I'd definitely be returning in the near future to pick up where I left off).

His response: "Ah sure thats no problem at all."

I'm currently taking a year's leave from my own course, and I've been put on an anti-depressant that just makes life more...manageable, comfortable and ultimately beautiful. I aim to return by September ;]

Also, just because you fail a year in college does not deem you ineligible for registering for the year you failed. I'd be very surprised if that was the case, lol.

LegacyUser

I have since been in touch with my head of dept, reluctantly... As this was the route I had to go down last year with a physical illness, so it wasn't obviously something I wanted to do again...She was ok about everything and if there was anything they could do ect...
My only problem is that I cannot afford to pay fees in college as I am already struggling on the maintenace grant, am unemployed and live 200 miles away from home...
As regards the medication, I don't know what to say as I feel worse than I ever was today, have an appointment to see my councellor tomorrow to see if that helps, but otherwise I don't know...I'm not happy taking meds in general because I've been on meds for quite a while with a physical problem and now this...

InReality

Medication can be a big factor in getting over depression and essential for some people.
Don't automatically dismiss it.
Think carefully why you don't want to take meds and talk it through with your GP

LegacyUser

I hear what your saying completely I am just feeling pretty low at the minute and I'm under alot of pressure with assignment and the quite high possibility of failure in my exams...
I talked to my faculty head, she was very nice but It's not an options I was to keen on as I had to go down this route last year due to a physical illness, she did give me a few options but there made all the more difficult as many of my assignment are in groups ect..
I do intend to go back to my GP after the Easter holidays but at this minute I'm finding it pretty difficult to get any college work done...Made all the more difficult with two annoyig parent down my back who are completely oblivious as to what's going on...What do I do?

Susannahmia

Unregistered wrote: »

Going anon for this..
I was recently diagnosed with depression in the last few weeks and I'm finding life in general extremely difficult more so than it used to be. I was put on anti-depressants there a week or two ago and have being going to councelling which I found to be extremely difficult. Now its comming up to exam time I just don't know what to do as I've fallen so far behind in college there is literally no catching up! As well as that I can't afford to fail and lose my place in college next year...So what do I do from here?
I was just wondering has anyone else been in a similar situation or has any advice on what I should do cos I just don't know anymore

Hey op I was in the exact same situation last year. I went to the academic advisory office in my college and they couldn't have been more helpful. They allowed me to defer any exams and continuous assessment that I felt that I couldn't complete and repeat just those the next year for free. All I needed was a letter from my psychiatrist/psychologist.

What is most important now is for you to just concentrate on getting better. Your mental health is much more important than any exams or deadlines.

Lorrs33

I'm in a similar situation at the moment. I was diagnosed with depression nearly three years ago but my doctor didn't want me to go onto anti-depressants, so it was counselling instead. I always found counselling to be extremely difficult, so I took to writing down how I felt and it really does take the weight off and help you think clearly. I panicked just last night about my college exams in three weeks, but today I came up with a good plan that won't overstress me and still allow me to get the work done. I know it may not feel like it now, but it's never too late to catch up.