[SummerTime12]

Maybe it’s not therapy that’s the problem but my various illnesses.. but right now I cannot for the life of me focus on any homework. Every time I try I just get overly emotional and and up panicking or crying. There are only a few weeks left of the semester, and I have so so much due this week but I just cannot focus. I’m way too deep in depression and flashbacks and feeling s******l. I have a 4.0 and the thought of ruining my grades so late in the semester is making everything worse.

Can therapists write notes for these things when it is severe?? Obviously a professor wouldn’t have to accept it, but like is is that even a thing? I hate taking the easy way out and not getting things done on time, but I really don’t know what to do. It’s feels like all my strength is being used to keep myself alive right now.

[satsuma]

I don't really know much about how it works in your country. But in my country at university you would usually have a tutor who has responsibility for you or is your point of contact and so that would be the person to approach.

Also, you can be sure that there will be other students who have experienced these kinds of problems, and student services maybe able to offer help or advice.

FWIW my own advice, personally, would be to break down one of your homeworks into very small chunks, and then try doing just one very little chunk. When you manage it then it may help you calm down and give you a confidence boost, and help you to approach the next little chunk.

I hope you can find a good solution.

[Chummy2]

It sucks when your therapy stuff or whatever you want to call it interfers with your study. It's happening with me too.

I don't live in your country, so I don't know hoe it works there. It can also be different at each school.
I know at my school you can talk with a special person and make some kind of rules, like an adjusted schedule. You do need a note from your therapist.
Isn't there something written about it on your schools website? If not you should talk to a counseler or tutor at school.
And it's not choosing the easy way out. School is hard enough without dealing with all kind of other stuff.

Is it therapy stuff interfering with your schoolwork, or is it mental health stuff, or treatment stuff? Therapy stuff can generally be resolved fairly quickly if you're both honest with each other - or you find another therapist. Mental health stuff is much more longlasting. Treatment stuff is a necessary evil.

How I differentiate:
Therapy stuff - transference, worrying about session, obsessing over T, stuff like that
Mental health stuff - your actual/initial issues, such as depression, anxiety, things like that
Treatment stuff - feeling tired after a session, still being out of sorts on Tuesday in class if you had T Monday afternoon and the session was heavy, touching on trauma or other deep stuff, or something.

Do you see the difference? Is it truly therapy stuff that's interfering or is it (also) one of the other two options I listed? (there may be even more options - I'm not an expert)

[SummerTime12]

Originally Posted by satsuma

Also, you can be sure that there will be other students who have experienced these kinds of problems, and student services maybe able to offer help or advice.

FWIW my own advice, personally, would be to break down one of your homeworks into very small chunks, and then try doing just one very little chunk. When you manage it then it may help you calm down and give you a confidence boost, and help you to approach the next little chunk.

I hope you can find a good solution.

Thank you so much Satsuma. It’s good to be reminded I’m not the only one who’s asked for extra help in this way, so they shouldn’t judge or look at me like I’m crazy.

Originally Posted by Chummy2

It sucks when your therapy stuff or whatever you want to call it interfers with your study. It's happening with me too.

I don't live in your country, so I don't know hoe it works there. It can also be different at each school.
I know at my school you can talk with a special person and make some kind of rules, like an adjusted schedule. You do need a note from your therapist.
Isn't there something written about it on your schools website? If not you should talk to a counseler or tutor at school.
And it's not choosing the easy way out. School is hard enough without dealing with all kind of other stuff.

I’m really sorry that you’re struggling with this also. It makes everything 10x more stressful, doesn’t it? Thank you for your good ideas. I think a school counselor probably would be the person I’d approach about this if anyone. And thank you for that last bit, I needed that! I think I know it deep down, but I’m just hard on myself because I feel like I should be able to just be fine

Originally Posted by Breadfish

Is it therapy stuff interfering with your schoolwork, or is it mental health stuff, or treatment stuff? Therapy stuff can generally be resolved fairly quickly if you're both honest with each other - or you find another therapist. Mental health stuff is much more longlasting. Treatment stuff is a necessary evil.

How I differentiate:
Therapy stuff - transference, worrying about session, obsessing over T, stuff like that
Mental health stuff - your actual/initial issues, such as depression, anxiety, things like that
Treatment stuff - feeling tired after a session, still being out of sorts on Tuesday in class if you had T Monday afternoon and the session was heavy, touching on trauma or other deep stuff, or something.

Do you see the difference? Is it truly therapy stuff that's interfering or is it (also) one of the other two options I listed? (there may be even more options - I'm not an expert)

Ooh those are some really good thoughts, thank you. I have all 3 of those disruptions, but it’s really just the mental health and treatment stuff impacting my ability to study. I definitely feel worn out and vulnerable from doing trauma work, but usually I can push through. It’s just when my symptoms start getting out of control that I feel like I can’t handle it

[BeyondtheRainbow]

My mom is a professor. Not a semester passes that she isn't contacted by someone who is having mental health issues affecting their work. She is always willing to work with them and I think that is pretty generally going to be true. It is best to talk to them as soon as you know there is a need; going to them finals week will make it much more difficult to arrange accommodations.

[CyclingPsych]

I would email the professor and go in during office hours to talk about it. If your school has a disability resource center I would suggest you sign up for their services. You can get due date extensions among other things.

[Sarmas]

Originally Posted by SummerTime12

Maybe it’s not therapy that’s the problem but my various illnesses.. but right now I cannot for the life of me focus on any homework. Every time I try I just get overly emotional and and up panicking or crying. There are only a few weeks left of the semester, and I have so so much due this week but I just cannot focus. I’m way too deep in depression and flashbacks and feeling s******l. I have a 4.0 and the thought of ruining my grades so late in the semester is making everything worse.

Can therapists write notes for these things when it is severe?? Obviously a professor wouldn’t have to accept it, but like is is that even a thing? I hate taking the easy way out and not getting things done on time, but I really don’t know what to do. It’s feels like all my strength is being used to keep myself alive right now.

I would let your T know for sure. Then I would contact your advisor to see your options. It’s not easy to function when your experiencing emotional issues and the semester is ending. If working with your T is not helping the issues I would definitely look into different options.

[HowDoYouFeelMeow?]

Definitely talk with your professors and disabilities office. I'm a professor and have been approached by 4 students this semester. It's (an unfortunate) normal.

[HowDoYouFeelMeow?]

Also consider taking an incomplete or a medical leave of absence.

[SummerTime12]

Thank you for all of the thoughtful replies. I’m going to talk to a school counselor about options for next semester. As for now, I’ve somehow managed to keep up with all assignments, and it’s thanksgiving break for me after Monday so I’ll be ok. Only issue is I did skip 2 classes Friday because I was so anxious and depressed I literally couldn’t get out of bed. I didn’t email my professors because I thought it sounds like an excuse and I hate sounding that way

[chihirochild]

I agree with the excellent suggestions above!

Just commenting to say that I've been there (I was also an overachiever in college), and it all worked out in the end