Hey
I notice that when I get stressed out, it messes up productivity, which in turn gets me frustrated (read my peer coaching thread about geog paper) and then I come down on myself... and then I get depressed.

anyone have any suggestions?
I don't see how I could have gotten this done on time, as it's my first time actually getting this far, and I'm analysing how I work...

I get depressed particularly about assignments and when I'm overwhelmed before specific exams.. all of them, not just exam period in general.

let me know what helps curve the sting

School is very stressful and from what you said you seem to be handling it well. Sometimes it can help to give ourselves permission to actaully feel all the negative feelings.

Have you tried meditation or relaxation tapes.

School is not easy for me either and I think once I actaully accecpt that fact things might be a bit easier for me.

Originally posted by Slowpoke
Hey
I notice that when I get stressed out, it messes up productivity, which in turn gets me frustrated (read my peer coaching thread about geog paper) and then I come down on myself... and then I get depressed.




My experiances in college have been similar, Slowpoke. Often by the end of the semester I would be so worn down that I'd start to slide and get minor depression., and to boot, I got major depression in Spring 2002,resulting in my failing all four classes!::eek: :( . However, its gotten much better since I actually started to take medication for my ADD, anxiety and depression. Since meds can't do it all, here are some other tips:

1. try to start the reading for the next term(ie semester or quarter) during the between term breaks by getting the syllabus ahead of time. I finally started to do this during the winter break before Spring semester 2003.

2. keep ahead of the reading by following tip #1 and continuing to be ahead. This reduces stress as you can focus more on classes themselves, papers and projects because you're ahead of the reading. Remember: the more of the reading you do, the less stress you have. Essays became easier, as does studying.

3. If you have the tendency to overuse the internet or other distractions, do your assighnments where you don't have access to it. All too often, when one is overwelmed, things like the internet or television will make you procrastinate even more, resulting in more frustration and anxiety, which in turn leads to stress ...and the cycle goes on.

4. do things in chunks and start early! Took me ages to learn this lession. For example, last semester I had a research paper to do. instead of starting it the week before, I would so a section here and there.

5. As you do chunks send them to the professor. He or she will help you and give you a bit of a

6. Also, sometimes it's a good idea to get cliffnotes or go to sparknotes.com to get summaries. This way, the nitty gritty and/or the themes in class is easier to remember. I used Cliffnotes for an astronomy class that I took, and it helped, at least with the main ideas. Note: don't rely entirely on summaries as some profs like detail.

hope this helps!

Hi all,
I just wanted to update you all on this issue.
I went through hell the past few months... stressed out, and feeling guilty for not being able to get things done b/c I was anxious or depressed. I had to decide to switch my treatment over to student health at the university and not see the "specialist" b/c he is far away by bus and I didn't really like him to begin with. He said he was treating me only for ADD, but then was giving me stuff for anxiety, so when I got stressed out and tried to get a med note from student health, they were unable to b/c I hadn't gone in to see them until the issue had mostly passed (non-supervised). I didn't go in to student health b/c I felt stupid for being stressed out and not being able to get it done, and the other doctor is far away, and when you're trying to get something completed, you don't really feel like taking half a day off (and missing class etc) to go see him to hear him say he can't really write a note. Or if he can, I have to pay him.
Anyway, I'm seeing the head of student health. She's firm but empathetic.
My main frustration right now is trying to deal with the side effects of paxil, the antidepressant I'm on. It makes me all wonky in the head, but is better than the effexor b/c I have an appetite. Effexor and Imipramine completely took away my appetite 24/7 so I lost a lot of weight. Paxil was OK when I was on 5mg a day, but would run out a little less than 24hrs, and I'd get wicked headaches. I got boosted up to 10mg, and if I take it too late in the night and have to get up, it sucks for the rest of the day.
I feel like I can't think straight, and I think slower. The Ritalin works to help, and it helps me sleep at night, but I'm not sure if it's helping with the stress aspect of it.
I find that I'm getting better marks in school: 65% and 66% on my midterms, but that could be due to other factors like only having 2 classes and living with my boyfriend (which is great!)...
So I'm not sure how to assess whether I have less anxiety. How would one know? I still have doubts, but I think that I was just really apprehensive about studying b/c it was hard to organize it. Maybe the anti-anxiety meds are helping with my cognitive abilities, which is helping me deal with my exams... or it could just be that I have less stress b/c I have accomodations with the disability resource centre now (extra time, private space).
I also have a tutor, who is GREAT!! She challenges and questions my decisions, which is what I need. I did have a coach, but she was more lenient and that led to me going off course... my tutor helps me stay on track more. She's a master's student in counselling psychology... which is great for her :)
Basically what's been working well is that I sit down with her and go over what I'm worried about school wise... and then she asks me some questions... if I'm not sure what to do, she gives some options, I pick what sounds good from those and sometimes come up with my own. Then I have a plan and she asks me what my next step is once I have started it.
It's hard to figure out sometimes what the next step is, but she helps me through it, and I'm learning how to organize all that info. She gives me guidance on what would be the most beneficial thing to do, what I need to keep in mind so I don't get stuck in the micro-focus trap.
So, I'm feeling a LOT more confident about school, whic makes me feel more motivated to study... I find that if I'm not sure if I'm doing something right or if it works, if I do it or go over what I think with her and realize that I did have the right idea and that it does work well for me, that I'm more confident and that helps me out a LOT.
She is helping me find out how I learn... and helping me come up with ways to help me develop the skills for my weaknesses...
My main weakness is figuring out how to organize the information from the text in coordination with the lectures. She's helped me come up with a system that really works and saves time!! I like it, I'm comfortable with it and it's built like a review system for the exam.
Anywya, if anyone is interested, I can post it out here.
Mainly, I came up with a list of questions to ask myself when I get lost in the process of sorting through the info... I also came up with a list of questions to ask myself during an essay exam (the prof read it before and approved it.. they are basically cues to help me find out where I am).
It's late, I have to pump my tires up for my bike.. I just got new tires for my road bike and learned how to change and install the wheels tonight :)
Must go.
Feedback, curiosity and comments welcome.
~M

Well Slowpoke, despite a few remaining struggles, can definitely see the growth in you since like three months ago...it sounds like you have a well-rounded strategy -- a tutor who's obviously great, accomodations, meds, etc...and congrats for being resourceful enough to find what you needed to make your school-life work and then implement it....:)

Hey all, I just wanted to let everyone know that I got a 76% final grade on my English lit course! This is one that will be counted for my GPA avg for education program I'm applying for after I'm done my BA... so it's good news.

I also think the meds are working, b/c I felt like going for a swim today, and it's been tough up to now, since I was too anxious about what others would think of me if they saw my swimming... I actually found a training program I liked for triathlon, which is really simple and easy for me to follow. I did the workout, plus commuted a total of 21km to work, so that counts as training too.

I really felt good putting a big, fat red checkmark beside the training list I posted up, and the additional biking I got to list as well :)

I also found a really good dayplanner sysyem - I saw it on the web and made it myself b/c I couldn't afford to buy it... and it's the first time I've found something that WORKS!!!
If anyone wants the file, let me know and I will send it to you. I posted about it in the ADDults section, there's more info there.

It's a great system! I feel more in control.
So life is good :)
And I'm feeling less stressed, so I'm feeling like I can get to bed earlier and get lots of sleep :)

I am praying for all of you to have the same progress, each in your own way.
Please don't give up!
I started to get better b/c I started the medication for anxiety, which I didn't even realize I had until I took a LD test and the assessors mentioned that there was a strong possibility that I had anxiety. It was hard trying to find the right meds, but I think I have something... and that it's helping me with my memory as well, which helps my grades and self-confidence, and everything else. I feel like I can make it in school for the first time in a long time...I don't have to worry about unemployment...

Anyway, don't give up! Just keep working at figuring it out... and check out anxiety as a possibility maybe. The meds are working OK together (Ritalin and Paxil) so it is possible...but this is not substituting for medical advice at all OK folks? Just putting my two cents in.

~M