[punkypunky]

How did you balance bipolar disorder with college classes?

What classes were the best for you to take and which ones gave you the most problems?

Did you request special accommodations? If so, what were they?

I have a year of college left and I am trying to figure out what classes to take and just make sure I get my degrees!

[manicminer]

Take classes you are truely interested in, that way concentration and focus will come much easier than a class you really don't want to be in in the first place.

I just did my best to make it to class and focus on the work when I studied. For a while I just didnt bother to go to class or was too drunk to really grasp anything. The week I missed to be in the p-ER was forgiven by the Dean, though I had to make up the exams.

I recieved no special accomodations because at that time I kept my dx to myself and wouldnt want to be treated differently.

I did end up taking somewhat easier classes and a lighter load to try to make things easier on myself.

[Moose72]

With the brain drugs putting a mile between each synaps I didn't do too well. I get confused where I put things lately too so I'm glad I'm not in school right now!

[mlovesmath]

Originally Posted by manicminer

Take classes you are truely interested in, that way concentration and focus will come much easier than a class you really don't want to be in in the first place.

Totally agree. I did better in the classes I loved and pretty terribly in the classes with which I was less thrilled.

[Victoria'smom]

I've been going on and off for 12 years now. More off lately. I've decided to test out of the classes I can. The short semesters (summer, the short ones for recesses) I did really well in but I have never been stable enough to complete full term classes. I do really well on go at your pace on-line classes.

[Nessa213]

As an undergrad I studied art which allowed freedom in many ways. I truly loved a lot of the classes which immensely helped. I only dropped off a bit towards the end when I was taking classes to finish my credit requirements and I just wasn't as interested in the topics.

However after that I continued on to pursue my MBA. Eventually I finished but it took me about 3 times longer than other classmates I started the program with. (But the key is that I finished I guess.) I did pretty dreadful in all my accounting classes and had to drop them a few times. (The program didn't allow for anything lower than a B-.)

It just depends on taking the classes you are most passionate about. It helps a ton. For me it was art, but that proved to be quite a difficult living to make.

[comicgeek007]

In college now. I'd like to know how to deal with it, because as my symptoms get worse and more mood drugs get tried, my grades are really starting to suffer. I was always a great student (although I've had issues having to work my way back up to a good grade after having mood swings screw me over), but now my grades aren't reflecting that.

[Darth Bane]

dont take any classes which are in morning say 8am . its hard to sleep early and if you sleep less than 8 hours it will mess with bipolar.

[comicgeek007]

Originally Posted by Darth Bane

dont take any classes which are in morning say 8am . its hard to sleep early and if you sleep less than 8 hours it will mess with bipolar.

Heh heh. See, I REALLY wish I wasn't reading this completely awake and unable to sleep at 3:15am my time.

Plan well and try not to fall behind on your reading. If you manage to stay ahead on your reading then you will be less stressed. Do not stress. Exams will go fine, and if they don't you'll take them again and they'll go fine. Find some friends on your courses so you have someone to vent to about the inhumane workload and how stressed out of your mind you are, and also laugh and eat with. They can remind you to eat during lunch time if you need help with that. Take meds if you become manic, stable is probably better because you have exams. Know when to stop reading and pushing yourself, even if you have an exam. You probably don't need to know everything in order to pass. You will not get straight A's unless you're pretty much healthy or your courses don't require a lot of work, so don't expect too much of yourself. That leads to stress, which leads to breakdowns and failure. Use the study areas because they're usually more quiet, which means you are more effective. It is true that some people have difficulty concentrating when it's completely quiet, but it is not true that these people do just as well as the people who can concentrate in silence. We all think better when it's quiet if we can relax enough to actually concentrate, and for some (me) noises make it very difficult to concentrate and this is frustrating and makes you stressed. Find out how you learn best. Most people learn quicker by reading than by going to lectures, but lectures can be more relaxing and social. Do not skip all of your lectures unless you really need the extra time, because being social and discussing things with your fellow students creates and maintains an identity and will really help you find motivation. Try not to say and do embarrassing things (e.g. when drunk) that will make you want to stay at home. And ask if there are any student organizations for MI or something similar where you can get advice and assistance. You might need it in the future.

I hope this is helpful to you.

[Darth Bane]

Originally Posted by comicgeek007

Heh heh. See, I REALLY wish I wasn't reading this completely awake and unable to sleep at 3:15am my time.

when i was in college it was practically impossible for me to sleep before 2am you can switch off lights and listen to your favorite playlist on ipod - it used to do trick for me!

[venusss]

How did you balance bipolar disorder with college classes?

So so. I did quite well. Had to take extra semmester, but I wasn't the only one in the class, so eh.

What classes were the best for you to take and which ones gave you the most problems?

I liked middle eastern studies and classes in English (I studied in Czech language program on Czech uni), I hated economics classes and found strategic studies quite difficult (though I passed them with decent grades). But that has nothing to do with my bipolar and everything with my preferences and my profesors...

so i cannot advice you... I mean... what classes you enjoy? what you good at? Who are decent profs? what could you use in future? these should be the guidelines.

Did you request special accommodations? If so, what were they?

My school does not provide this, unless you are seriously physically handicaped (my friend had it for result of injuries of a car accident, but she still had to keep with her deadlines or take the class next semmester)...

Plan well and try not to fall behind on your reading.

this so much.

[Odee]

The easier classes are best for me. LOL Not so much stress.

Otherwise, I am very good at remembering notes short term (as in, I study the night before and the hour before the exam. Ace it, but I'll forget it all soon.) Because of this, I do best in note-lecture classes that have two or three exams in the quarter/semester. As I reached junior year, however, my classes involve much more involvement through projects, papers, etc. This is extremely stressful on me. Also, working in groups, I feel as though I do not bring enough into the group, especially because I switched to a new major recently and I am currently in a group dealing with a project I have no understanding of.