College students with depression, etc there is hope!!!!

When I went back to college in the United States, after being away for 26 years, I was now dealing with depression, anxiety, & a number of other problems. I am actually on disability for my depression because it has been so bad in the past that I couldn't even function.

I looked into the "Disabled Student Services", & guess what, they provided support for those of us who deal with these problems. All you have to do is provide them with the diagnosis from your Psychiatrist/Psychologist, or Dr. They review it & come up with a plan that gives you a chance to succeed even with your disability.

It offers things like being able to record lectures & the instructor must agree; taking more than the given time for an exam; & being able to take it in a quite place so you can concentrate.

If your disability flares up & you become sick, it is documented so the instructor knows that you are not just faking it. It DOESN'T give you the right to disrupt the class or other inexcusible things, but I found that the pressure was definitely decreased.

It was much easier for me to accomplish my goal of maintaining a 4.0 GPA when going back to college after previously getting my BS.

Something to consider for all you college/university students,
Debbie K

Hm. I've read up in the student guide, and they do mention making provisions for disabled students, but I have no idea if they'd help me like that. I'm not on disability, though I think I could get it possibly, it's been so bad. I guess I should look into this college help stuff... maybe I'd actually be able to handle what I've been getting behind in. I'd hate to feel/seem like I'm looking for special treatment or something, though. I feel like I'm just lazy sometimes. But maybe I really do need help like this - I've done much better in the past, so I'm capable of it somewhere, but this depression is crippling me.

Wow, thanks for the info, I'll have to look into it.

Wow that must have been a great college. When I went to Uconn they did have a services for students with depression, but it was not nearly so good. It was all about what the professor thought. If he/she agreed to help then they would, but no one made them. It kinda put a stop to me asking for help because god forbid one of them said no and then knew about it afterward.
I hope that more colleges are better then the one that I went to.

Jessica

you do not have to be on disabitly to get the help, because I am not on disabitly, I go to a therpitst once a month or when I have the time, he works with my offsite T, and my PDoc, and it all works out wonderfully.

I have just started going through this service but so far it has helped me start to maintain a better GPA also..
Trust me it does help, go and talk to someone in the office it can not hurt to talk, it is there for us that are in a bind and for those who doe need the help.

Just another note regarding this service to students...it has been put in place in order to comply with the federal disability act. I would guess if you are in the USA & in a school that doesn't have support for anyone with a disability (Lady Dragus is correct...no need to be on disability...just a Dr diagnosis), they are not compliant with the federal requirement to handle disabilities.

I went through my BS without needing it but didn't have the problems I have now. It is not something you have to use unless you find it necessary, but it there when you find you need it if you are involved in the services office. They have support for people with all kinds of disabilities. It's not really special treatment, but help is there if you find you need it.

Glad others have found this service of use in your experience. Hope it helps others to know that help is available if needed.
Debbie K