[gwenlian]

I don't know what to do and I won't see my therapist for a week and a half to discuss it with her.

I was discharged from the hospital two weeks ago for severe anxiety and depression. When I spoke with my therapist on Monday she was all for my registering for classes. Since then some self injuring has occurred and everyone agrees that I need a higher level of care than just seeing my therapist weekly. I'm looking into an intensive outpatient program but I can't be seen there for intake until the 12th, and I don't know how far into September the sessions would go.

I'm already on financial aid probation because I withdrew from all classes 11 years ago the last time I tried going to school. I don't want to risk being put on academic probation again and loosing my financial aid. I'm going to school for art and one of my courses is a studio course with a pretty hefty homework requirement.

If school was starting on Monday there would be no way I could cope with it. For those of you who have read this far, should I take the risk of registering or just take this semester off?

[Little Lulu]

If it has been 11 years since you have been in school, waiting another semester to start seems reasonable. Usually I am all for trying things and saying it is OK if they don't work out, nothing ventured, nothing gained ... that sort of thing. But when someone is in a fragile place, another potential failure isn't what is needed.

So maybe what you really need is to enter the outpatient program, successfully complete that, and have better footing before considering school.

[Perna]

Do you have to take a full load of courses? I would see if there wasn't one course that really interested me and see if I could sign up for and take that, alone, get my feet wet and have a bit of a "hobby"/start. Even if I had to pay for it somehow on my own instead of with aid, I'd treat it as part of my therapy? Are there any courses possible online? History of art courses, that sort of thing?

[gwenlian]

I was only planning on taking two courses this semester to continue to get my feet wet. I took English Comp last fall and it went well but a studio course is much more challenging - my depression/anxiety combined with the work load of three studio courses is what led me to withdraw 11 years ago. I don't think financial aid covers online courses at my school and I need to take two classes to use my financial aid. I had a manic episode yesterday (a reaction to my most recent med increase we think) so I'll be talking to my therapist tomorrow and find out what she thinks.

[Perna]

Maybe not try the studio courses this semester if it feels like it might be too much but take a couple other of the more bland required courses?

I think you should sit down and evaluate whether you can cope with the amount of homework in a realistic way. At the end of the day, you have to live with the choices you make. Sometimes, a little bit of extra effort now can make life convenient (or at least fulfilled) later on... Also see how your other classmates are doing and managing their time and workload.

Good luck and I am sure you can make it

[gwenlian]

Thank you for all the feedback but I think the decision has been made for me since it looks like I'll be going inpatient again tomorrow. I may still try it with maybe art history and a math course with late registration, but it depends if they are going to be overhauling my meds or not. Thanks again for all your suggestions.

[Fresia]

School will be there when you are up to it and ready. You will find the right time to go back whether or not this is that moment, no worries. Hang in there meanwhile and do what you need to to take care of you first and foremost. ((((gwenlian)))))