College

Hello! I'm in my Senior year of college and I'm Bi-polar. I have been really down lately and I don't know whats gonna happen I haven't been able to do any homework for the last few weeks. I'm trying to get caught up but, its hard. It's hard cause I have all these dreams and goals and but I get on the road to achieve them and hit a low and everything crumbles down. I want to just drop outta school and don't know what I should I do. I am so tired of everyone telling me that I have everything and that I am gonna be so successful. I think it makes me mad cause I really don't know where my life is gonna go being bi-polar.

Anyone have any advice for me? That is going through the same similiar situation.

I haven't been diagnosed but students at this stage, we all feel burnt out, we really don't know where our future will be like regardless, and having bipolar can make it more difficult, dealing with the uncertainty

It is fine to question your future, but don't drop out of school, you're so close to graduating. You'll feel better once you get the degree. FOr now try to take time for yourself to answer your own questions, if it's possible can you go to a college counselor? They know it's a stress going to college..

I had to take the 2012 winter semester off. It was completely humiliating for me
but it would've been more humiliating to fail...I'm bipolar, and I was in a major depression
that had been going on since September.
I wouldn't suggest that you drop out altogether but I don't see anything wrong with
taking time off if you can't function. If you don't feel like this is where you are, then
I would suggest you find a support group. Join study groups. Have someone to be
accountable to besides a grade at the end of the semester which is so abstract.

That's my advice...suck it up and pull through or really evaluate if you can continue.e
and either keep going or take a break. College isn't going anywhere.

I agree! Hang in there! We will have our ups and downs in life--of course, we bipolars have them more than some others--but there are people who are successful even though they have bipolar disorder. I think of Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison (who wrote the book "An Unquiet Mind"). She was first diagnosed with bipolar at 17, but finished college and grad school and is a professor at Johns Hopkins.

Hi there,

I don't know if this applies to you or not, but I tend to place very high expectations on myself as to how I will do in school. I expect myself to get very high grades. When faced with a depression and a paper that was due, I had to lower the expectations I placed on myself. I finished it and I passed and no employer has asked to see my grades! So hang in there and make sure the expectations you have of yourself are in check, especially when you are not doing well. Be kind to yourself...........

Have you gone to your disability center on campus? If you have a disability (physical or emotional), you can possibly get some help and accommodations will be made for you. The professors have to abide by the accommodations. They could be homework extensions, tutoring, private room for test, etc. I think all colleges and universities have disability centers. Could help.

Whether you are bipolar or not, you are going to have a life? Might as well work toward something that feels good when you are not feeling bad?

I would analyze your study habits. Do you do well anyway, even if you have to do things last minute? If so, I would let yourself rest a bit, read some novels (about subjects you are studying?) and lay in the sun, etc.? I learned to trust myself, that I would do what it took because it was important to me. I also learned that I did not do a whole lot of learning from my textbooks and insisting I try to read them and giving myself a hard time because I did not, etc., I figured out how I, personally, learn, and worked to my strengths (writing) instead of the generic "how to study" model.

Figure out what interests you right now; sleep, reading, getting help and support from other people, what is it? Use whatever it is to help you instead of trying to force yourself into another pattern.

congrats are making it that far. ive taken many years off and i plan on going back this semester.

I'm about to complete my final semester this fall and I feel overwhelmed myself. I'm bipolar 2 and my meds need some tweeking so I'm not exactly thrilled to go back either. However, I tell myself I'm at the finish line and I have to keep going. So I saw my doc to make sure I'm stable enough for this semester. At the same time, I'm feeling overwhelmed because I'm at that 'now what?' stage of life. What am I going to do with this degree? But I try to take it one day at a time. I place really high standards on myself as well so that doesn't help. But we're only human and life isn't perfect. At least you're almost done!! That's an awesome accomplishment!!! You can do it!!

also make sure you keep a regular sleeping pattern! it helps me get through the day/semester...