Dropping out of the semester?

I would really appreciate some advice from all you lovely folk at PC.
Background info:
I'm currently about 1/3 of the way through the fall semester at my college.
I was diagnosed bipolar 2 w/ ultra rapid cycling about two months ago.
My first pdoc appointment is tomorrow (wish me luck)

Basically I really need to get things in gear and start working on my school work, but between the anxiety levels and unmedicated bipolar it's proven to be very difficult. I've missed all of school last week and yesterday. I've also missed two tests. Like I said before I have my first pdoc appointment tomorrow, but I needed to start feeling better like yesterday. I have two options at this point. One, try to push through even though I'm ridiculously behind and realistically probably won't feel better immediately because it takes a while to find the right meds. This option on paper sounds the best, but I'm really afraid this will put too much pressure on me which would be awful. I also would have to start cracking down tonight as I have homework do tomorrow, but just the thought of sitting down and trying is nauseating. I really want to stay in school, but I'm just afraid it will also send me in a downward spiral.

Option two is to take a medical leave and retake the same classes next semester. The problem with this option is while it relieves me of almost all stress I will have nothing to do with my time. This is bad because I really don't want to spend a lot of time at home because I live in a toxic environment that I can't really get out of. I also don't want this to fuel my depression and make me feel worthless. I'm afraid that I might never want to go back to school if I take a leave now because all I'll remember is this awful level of stress and anxiety and not any of the good things about it.

I'm really torn. Have any of you guys been in this situation? Like I said before all opinions and thoughts are welcome. I really appreciate it.

I was in that situation when I first went to college in 2005. I ended up having to drop out because I couldn't get it together even with treatment. I decided not to go back the following semester because the college itself was the wrong college for me. I didn't go back to school until 2007. But the point is I did go back, and I finished with a bachelor's in English and secondary education.

If you choose to stay, is there any way you can talk to your professors? Maybe explain to them that you've been ill (no need for specifics unless you feel comfortable) and maybe ask for extended time on some homework or something like that. What really helped me in college was writing everything down that I had to do in a weekly planner and then planning out what I had to do each day. Breaking it down into smaller segments helped keep some of my anxiety down.

If you do decide to drop out, can you maybe get a part time job or a volunteer job that can keep you out of the house? I had a similar situation. My home was not a good place for me to be for extended periods of time. I was able to hold a part time job even when my symptoms were raging out of control. That kept me busy for awhile.

It will take awhile to find the right meds so unfortunately even with a pdoc which is a step in the right direction you won't be feeling better right away.

Just know that school is always there. Even if now is not the right time for you, you can go back, whether it's next semester or next year or even later than that. You need to take care of yourself first.

I've found Ashwagandha root extract (Sensoril) and
L-Theanine (Suntheanine) to have significantly helped me deal with stress. Just as important is to get ample sleep on a regular basis as sleep deprivation over extended periods of time can interfere with neurogenesis in the hippocampus, at which point learning becomes more difficult, mood regulation can suffer, and more, all of which can be quite stressful in an academic setting. A healthy diet and regular exercise, even just an hour of continuous walking, is also quite beneficial.

I have a B.S. and M.S. and it took me over a period of fifteen years to finish this, I was working full time as well. I took a lot of time off because of my illnesses because I knew my health was more important. This is the way I looked at it, withdraw and take time off so it doesn't affect your gpa, or stay in the class and mess up your gpa. I always chose the first one. It took me longer but I graduated with a 3.48 for my B.S. and a 4.0 for my M.S. You also have to take into consideration right now that you will just be starting meds. My experience, and probably most will agree, it takes a long time to find the right combo and the side effects can be hell. Can you handle that and school right now? I personally do good on meds for a few months and then my mood swings and they have to be changed, but that's just me. I'm just preparing you and telling you that this is going to be a rough ride. I look back and go how the hell did I manage all of this, but I also look at myself and say that I am proud. You have to accept that you have this illness and sometimes stuff, school, has to be pushed to the side but it's not forever. I hope I haven't scared you, but you are in the beginning stages and this was my experience. Hopefully others will reply with other experiences so you can make the right decision because this is a tough decision to make. Good luck to you.

I just faced the same situation this week. I recently was diagnosed, and was taking a course at the time. I missed a bunch of time while I was in a hypomanic state. I dropped the course and since my school had 5 week courses, I figured I could restart as soon as my meds were all set. A few months later, still adjusting meds, I decided to try and go back. Week 2 of the class I have another episode and I'm back to the point staying or going. In calling my academic advisor and mentioning some of what is going on, In was referred to the Student Disabilities Office. To save my GPA, could go on hold again, but I don't want to take it again. So I talked to the SDO and they can advocate on your behalf with the profs, extra time on tests and assgnments.

If you stay in this semester find your college's Student Disability Office, they can help you get back on track. I've also had a harder time studying on the meds. Before it took little effort, now it's like I have to force it.

Hi LilacLime, I hope your app't goes well. I agree with what wildflowerchild said above. You need to take care of yourself first. Part-time or volunteer work could get you out of the house as much as school did. And you could always go to your school's library and read up on the subjects you're interested in taking.

Since your school has medical leave you shouldn't even get any w's on your transcript for this semester's courses. Trying to "gut out" the semester when you've missed so much, and you're trying to get stable with new meds, is a recipe for trouble.

Just my 2 cent's worth.

all the best,
Randy

This happened to me. It was my sophomore year at an out-of-state college. At the time I was suffering from bulimia and was generally a *ucked-up mess. I dropped out during my second semester (too late to even get back ANY money) and moved back home.

I ended up going back to school at home, but dropped out again a few more times. At age 30 I went back and graduated.

Moral of the story- dropping out does not mean you will never go back. It takes many people years to finally graduate.

As for home life- is there any way you can go live with someone else? What about getting a part time job?

Chiming in to say that I agree with Blacksheep. It's better to withdraw and not mess up your gpa than go to class and hope for the best. In the past I would just stick it out because I felt a lot of shame around withdrawing (which is DUMB, if you are ill, you're ill. No shame in that). However I did end up taking a break last semester when I realised the thing about the gpa, I never knew that if you withdrew from a class that it wouldn't affect your gpa, I thought failing it was the same thing.

All this is great advice. I wish I had it going through college. I wasn't even diagnosed yet!
Like you've done, take the new advice and suggestions and your concerns and thoughts and do a pros and cons list.
If you can put college on hold and find outlets to keep you out of your home like what wildflowerchild25 said and stick with it, awesome!
If you really don't want to quit for now check in to what Heechee55 suggested.

It took me 3 in a half (one semester part time is the half, lol) colleges and some time off, taking me almost 7 years and no diagnosis or meds. To finish my B.S. I did it!

I finished my B.S. By transferring allot of my engineering credits to the Math department. One term later of mediocre performance I had my degree.

Hey everyone. Thank you for all the advice I really appreciate it! I am going to try and stay in school and finish out the semester or at least for a trial period. If I can't catch up in the next few weeks I'll withdrawal, but right now it's too much of a positive influence in my life to let it go. Especially when my home life is so awful I just need a connection to the outside world. Plus this way I'll also feel better if I do need to withdrawal because at least I gave it one last try. Again thanks everyone