[SingDanceRunLife]

My mom is pushing me to take this upcoming semester off from school because mental health wise I'm not doing great and she doesn't want to see me crash and burn. I get where she's coming from, especially looking at how last semester went. However, I really don't want to take the semester off. My school is my home, and my friends there are my family.

I also want to graduate on time which will be impossible if I take the semester off, and I'm also afraid that if I take the semester off I won't go back to school.

I told my mom that I would consider taking the semester off and that I would talk to my therapist to see what she thought...I did, and she agrees with my mom that I should take the semester off. Ugh. She said that many people take a year off after a bipolar diagnosis to get their lives more together and meds straightened out etc.

Has anyone else been in a situation like this? How was taking a semester off for you?

[Sophia57]

If you are newly diagnosed this might be a good idea. I got my diagnosis after I finished my undergrad degree. I went back part time correspondence to get a French language certificate, and got sick on the 7th of 10 courses. Physically and mentally. I quit in the middle of a course, and never went back.

About 4 years later, I was settled down, and I started a 3 year Master's degree part time. I'm going into my 6th year, and it has been a wonderful experience. I'll be done at the end of year 7, but the whole thing has been a time of growing and learning. There is no shame in taking a break. Get yourself more stable, and you will be pleased with the results.

[aeylania]

Okay, I'll try not to make this a lengthy response, but I tend to be long-winded. I've gone through the same thing, though.

When I was officially diagnosed bipolar I was a wreck. I had stopped going to work, I was getting migraines all the time from an unrelated medical issue, and I felt like I couldn't do anything. The counselor who did my intake at the clinic I go to looked at me very seriously when I was in tears about how I can't handle anything and said, "Why don't you go to school? You're so smart, and you can take out loans for living expenses."

I just looked back at her and blinked, then said, "Well I didn't know you could do that. I would love to go back to school." I didn't think, "Can I handle this?" I didn't think, "OMG I'm bipolar I can't do school." I just thought, "Awesome, I love to learn." I signed up as soon as I could, went through orientation, and gained a tremendous amount of self-confidence. I did great my first semester, I made friends, I joined the Honors program and the Honors society, Phi Theta Kappa. I kept up with my work and stuck to my planner.

Fast-forward to the next semester, when the newness of school wore off (as well as my hypomania). My depression kicked in and I struggled to get to class. I struggled to do my homework. I struggled to be bipolar and function as a student. I made it through, but it was tough. The next semester was worse. I missed more days and my GPA dropped slightly, and finally, to bring us to the most current semester, last Spring, I actually was admitted to the hospital for three days due to depression and missed two weeks of school. My teachers were great when they found out why I missed so much school and I only had to drop one class. They worked with me and I got caught up; however, I did make two C's, when normally I'm a straight A student.

Over the summer I questioned whether or not I could handle school again. Look how I messed up last semester! Not doing my homework, not getting out of bed, and eventually in the hospital! Well, I was trying to take 19 hours worth of classes, I was VP of Service, Webmaster, and Reporter for my PTK chapter, and I was in the Honors program to boot. I was simply doing TOO MUCH because when I got hypomanic I thought I could do everything!

So eventually, I decided to return to school, but only take 12 hours of classes. That's still considered full time so I can qualify for my Pell grant, but is a lighter load (even though I'm taking Calculus III, Linear Algebra, Physics and Psychology), and I'm not going to be involved in as many extracurricular activities. I'm going to use my planner again, and do my homework, make a schedule and stick with it.

Maybe you can return, but only go part time, and cut back on any (if you participate in them) extracurricular activities. School helps my mental health when I stick with my schedules because it puts me in a routine. It may help you. However, if you're too stressed and spinning out of control, you could seriously mess up your GPA and put yourself further behind. Put your health first. If going to school helps you stay healthy, do it, but maybe cut back some. If school is a major stresser, take a semester off to focus on you. Those medication adjustments can be HARSH at first, and may contribute to you not doing well in school. If you truly love going, you *will* go back even if you take a semester off.

Anyway, I hope some of that makes sense. Sorry for the length.

Blessings,
Aeylania

[wing]

I was diagnosed in my senior year and took a year off to recover and straighten my meds out. I'm glad I did, because my GPA wasn't affected like it would have been if I had tried to go back before I was back on my feet. There is no shame in taking extra time to graduate. It makes no difference in the long run.

[SingDanceRunLife]

Part time isn't an option because in order to live on campus you need to be full time (12 credits). I could do just 12 credits I suppose, that would be okay with me, but my mom doesn't even want me to do that. I would be happy doing that though.

[zbmom]

Well I guess it depends on how you feel. If you think you can handle 12 credits it is your life after all. I think if you decided to stay for a semester you should keep a stable relationship with your T and make sure you take classes that aren't too intense and that you have the support you need. I didn't know I was bipolar in college but what worked for me personally was taking all my classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I would do homework on Wednesdays. That way I would have Friday-Monday to kind of take it easy and recover. This might not be the solution for everyone but I think you just have to figure out what you can handle and what you can't and go from there.

I can't tell you what you should or shouldn't do, that's for you to decide, but I do think that doing things just because others want you to tends to breed resentment. If you take off a semester it has to be your decision because it feels like the best thing for you, not because your mom or T think so.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I think I could do 12 credits. I even have what I think is a really good plan/schedule! I could take 3 classes that I need to take and don't think would be too intense and one class that I just genuinely want totake: American Sign Language (I used to be almost fluent in ASL and it's a beginning class), English (I've always been good at English, and it's with a professor everyone loves), statistics (a class everyone has said is super easy) and ballet (I've been dancing on and off for most of my life, and again, it's an intro class).

My schedule would look like this:

Monday

Stats 12:30-1:20

Tuesday

Ballet 8:30-9:45
Stats lab 3-3:50
English 5:30-6:45

Wednesday

Stats 12:30-1:20
ASL 5:30-8:30

Thursday

Ballet 8:30-9:45am
English 5:30-6:45

Friday

Stats 12:30-1:20

I think that it's completely doable and not over doing it...and actually seems kinda nice.

[Confusedinomicon]

It is ultimately your choice. I took 6 months off of school (one semester) and came back refreshed and renewed. However I've still had periods where I struggle (still struggle today). It shouldn't deter you from your aspirations, but there is nothing wrong with completing your degree a semester or two (or more!) late. There is no time table for you to complete it. If it is a goal it will get done.

I answered your thread on the school forum.

[SunAngel]

I don't know if anybody know this, but all schools now have a disability dept. You go to that dept., disclose your BP diagnosis, and they have to make it easier for you.

You will be able to submit your assignments late or in your own time, and also take exams only when you are able. They work with you so things become easier for people with disabilities, so you will be able to get through school so much easier without so much pressure.

In all schools, BP Disorder is considered a disability just like any physcial diabilities someone may have.

Before starting school, go to the Disability Dept., disclose your illness and you will be able to get through school a hell of a lot easier.

I want to wish you all the luck in the world.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I know it's up to me, but my mom holds a lot of sway. I usually end up doing what she wants me to do.

I'm going to try to talk to her again and show her the schedule I came up with, and I'll also talk to my T again.

[mgran]

I had to take a year off at one point in a three year degree, so finished in four. At that point I was undiagnosed, but obviously not firing on all cylinders as far at the department was concerned. I got a very good degree, but they refused to give me an academic reference for further studies. My advice... never tell your tutor that you saw the devil playing fiddle outside the market.

In retrospect I don't think it made much difference taking time out. My last year felt odd because all my friends had left. And I was on track to get a good degree anyway, even though I believed in aliens tracking me and all that junk. I think it just gave the tutors a chance to ignore me for a year. I don't think they'd have minded if I'd dropped out completely. It seemed to have shocked them when I did well.

[SingDanceRunLife]

I guess I am taking the semester off....