[IchbinkeinTeufel]

I can't believe I'm thinking of this, but I've just learned from a friend, just how good the OU is for people like me who are disabled by mental health issues.

I'm thinking of doing something like psychology, or counseling because I find it interesting and I want to help people, myself included!

My problem is anxiety and stuff keep me from going out, quite often, so I need something flexible, and the OU is just that. I'm on the OU site, and looking stuff up but I would really like from you lovely people, is your view on it. If you're with the OU, what experience have you had or do you currently have? Would you reccomend it to someone like me?

It's an exciting prospect.

I just looked at the fees of a degree in languages, the understanding of English (piece of cake for me! ) and German (already been studying German solo for a few years!) and it said: "At today's prices, the fee for the whole degree is £15,372." My heart sank. I cannot afford that, even remotely. My yearly income is under what they say constitutes as a pass to having the government pay it all for me, without owing back (unless I suddenly becoming a millionaire, I bet!)

I really don't understand all this stuff; it's all new to me.

[spondiferous]

Good luck, Akuma. I identify with you on wanting to get an education in a way that works for you. I hope you find a way. I finally decided to bite the bullet and I'm beginning a degree in less than a month from now. Even though I've only got two classes this summer, and they do not run cocurrently, I'm nervous as hell. I'm afraid of having some kind of episode and having to quit. I've wanted to go to college my whole life. I just so badly want it to work out...
I wish you all the best.

[IchbinkeinTeufel]

Same here! :\

Good luck to you, too!

I found a good introductory Level 1 (15 credits, whatever that is all about) course (module) to counseling which I'm very interested in, but just thinking about it is giving me so much anxiety. I need help really, I need someone to help me get onto the course and just support me and make sure I'm doing everything right, much like when you get your own place, struggle with stuff, and have a support worker to guide you. I feel a bit stupid wanting to get into that field when I'm so messed up myself. >.> I'm sure it's common, but I can't help but to feel like a hypocrite and a fool.

THE FOLLOWING GETS A BIT DEPRESSING, but nothing extreme:

Also, thinking about it more, I've only just started getting help for severe OCD that I've had my entire life, so maybe I'm jumping the gun? Should I just wait until my mental health is a bit better, and I have my own place, and some security in myself and life? The problem is that I'm already almost 27; I feel like I'm wasting valuable learning years. I screwed school up, I screwed college up twice, then proceeded to screw up the interview for the third attempt at college. I know that was all years ago and I was a wreck, but I just feel like such a failure, like I'm being an idiot to remotely think I could get something like a degree. :\ Ergh.

The really frustrating thing is I keep getting told I'm clever and capable of doing so much, and to some extent I feel the same way, but I'm so angry at life and certain courses in my life that have made me the way I am. I wish I could turn that anger and resentment into a good thing. Basically, I feel like I'm in a wheelchair, being told "You can get up and run anytime you like!" Does that make sense? :\