going back to uni this September

[neil25]

just spoke to my university programme leader and has agreed for me to come back part time in September. I also need to speak to my uni special needs adviser who says i'm entitled to more time in exams because of my disability. I'm really excited about going back because it's something to do. I think the main part of my anxeity and depression is being stuck at home day in day out. I'm also nervous because i know how difficult its going to be but i'm determined to finish my degree and get something to fall back on.

[alicewoolf]

that's great Neil, really good news. Just take it easy and pace yourself and you'll be fine! good luck with it all

[mermaid]

I am really pleased for you Neil - it will be good to have something to focus on, and I am sure the uni will do their best to support you with any issues over the disability. It's so good that these things are recognised.

I believe that there is a fund too for equipment if needed ... it might be worth asking about that, as I read on another forum about a student with ME/CFS who had been able to access this fund.

Here's a link with some info :
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeo ... G_10035904

Sorry if you know it all already!

[CS1]

Part time is great !! Well Done!!

If it is part time - you will have time to devout to getting WELL too!


Thanks
CS

[neil25]

i'm not sure about that, it is my final year and cause my fatigue and pain is so bad it will probably take most of my time just studying.

[Jj85]

"i'm not sure about that, it is my final year and cause my fatigue and pain is so bad it will probably take most of my time just studying."

Hi Neil. Major congrats. I think that you'll find that even if your condition doesn't get any better during this time, it won't get any worse. Accomplishing something on a daily basis, like you said, will do a lot to remove worries and stress about your place in life, even if now you'll have the added stress of having to do some work.

The only piece of advice I have (as someone who decided to go to grad school after spending a few months unemployed and sick) is that you can't be negative (like in your quote above), and, MOST OF ALL, you have to try as hard as possible to not stress about how you'll do. If it takes you longer to get stuff done, that's fine. If you don't do as well, that's fine. If you have to drop out, you have to drop out.

If you can get yourself to not worry so much about how you'll handle everything (I was very bad at this for the first few months of my time back in school), I promise you'll be able to handle everything much more easily. Just be proud every day of everything you get done that day.

Also, for what it's worth, it might be easier for you to get an adderall prescription now that you're back at school. I don't know how it works across the pond, but here I know that people can pretty easily fake having ADD if that's what your doctor requires you to prove to get the prescription. Take care and good luck.

[neil25]

thanks for the advice. I'm going to uni today for a meeting today to discuss what they can do to accomdate me going back. This means getting extra time in exam and allowing me to work from home when I can't make classes. I'm still in two minds about going but you made me feel a bit more positive about going back. The only reason I wanted to go back in first place is just because I'm so fed up being stuck at home and I feel I could take on a challenege. I'm still also really scared about going back wondering if I can cope.

[sjgot1]

just spoke to my university programme leader and has agreed for me to come back part time in September. I also need to speak to my uni special needs adviser who says i'm entitled to more time in exams because of my disability. I'm really excited about going back because it's something to do. I think the main part of my anxeity and depression is being stuck at home day in day out. I'm also nervous because i know how difficult its going to be but i'm determined to finish my degree and get something to fall back on.

I went back to uni with CFS and the university let me have extra time/ rest breaks if I needed them in exams. This really helped take the pressure off. It also helped me knowing that my lecturers knew about my condition so that I felt less burdened and cound actually enjoy my studies and uni life. Good luck with your studies.