My panic attacks came back after 2 years of remission about 6 months ago. I started on Klonopin and then quickly realized I just needed more and more and began tapering off of it - currently I am on .50mgs once a day.

After the panic started again and I began having withdrawal symptoms I left my on-campus schooling at college and did last quarter fully online. I am taking summer quarter (I have to because in September I am transferring up to a four year college and need to go in with a Junior standing to get into my major) which is condensed and only 8 weeks long and have one class on campus that is 3x per week, less than two hours for two days, and about 4 hours for one day due to lab (it's chemistry). I am very scared. I am worried about having a panic attack, having to bolt from the classroom, and falling behind.

I have a note from the school saying my issue is a documented disability so I know the teacher will be kind and work with me but it's one of those classes where you really have to be IN class, and I hate the idea of other students thinking poorly of me for leaving.

I have phobic panic attacks. I get nauseated and think I'll throw up and I am terrified of that.

Does anyone have any tips for heading back to school after 3 months of being online?

I appreciate it.

[Miswimmy1]

i was out of school for about 5 months last year... coming back is hard, not gonna lie. i suggest just taking it day by day.

one thing that you should prepare yourself for is questions. people are curious creatures and you are bound to have at least one person ask you where you have been. i would brainstorm some replies you might have to various questions, as well as what you might say if you don't want to answer questions. in general, reassuring people that you are ok and getting better will keep the questions at a minimum. thats usually all they want to know. if they continue prying, just say something along the lines of, "the best way to help me continue to get better is to not ask." that usually stops the questions.

congrats on going back. thats a big step! good luck! tell us how it goes!

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

i was out of school for about 5 months last year... coming back is hard, not gonna lie. i suggest just taking it day by day.

one thing that you should prepare yourself for is questions. people are curious creatures and you are bound to have at least one person ask you where you have been. i would brainstorm some replies you might have to various questions, as well as what you might say if you don't want to answer questions. in general, reassuring people that you are ok and getting better will keep the questions at a minimum. thats usually all they want to know. if they continue prying, just say something along the lines of, "the best way to help me continue to get better is to not ask." that usually stops the questions.

congrats on going back. thats a big step! good luck! tell us how it goes!

You're much braver than I! Thankfully it's just my college that I have been at for three quarters AND it is summer so I am going in not knowing anyone. I am a little fearful that there will be people there who perhaps didn't pass this level of Chem last quarter who were in my class (that I dropped a week in because I was so panicked!) so I'll have to think about that. I am just crossing my fingers the woman I sold my book to several months ago isn't in that class, haha!

Thank you!

[wotchermuggle]

You've registered with disability services so you're set. Maybe just talking to your teacher privately at the beginning will put you at ease, even if you just say, "Hey, I suffer from X, and am registered with disability services, but I just wanted to let you know that I'm committed to class and to the work, but if I get overwhelmed I might have to leave class." If you have to work with a partner, I'd tell them too.