help with improving things for next term...

top_drawer_2

hi,

I have been given a resit year in order to do my third year again as I suffered/continue to suffer with depression and I know Im on my last chance to get my degree done...

I dont think I can cope with much more though, my degree is very much about "independant learning" we have some lectures and very few seminars but the majority of the work is reading. We are not encouraged to work in groups so I can easily not see anyone off my course and even when we are due to attend, there's no interaction between us so its practically inpossible to meet anyone anyway. I dont know anyone anyway as my year graduated obviously.

Honestly, I wake in a morning with no aim/objective in mind. I can go a full week without seeing anyone but my housemates or people in passing, I often have no idea whether my "answer" is even on the right track - i'm so flaming aimless.

Everything takes me an age to get done, im not sure if this is the depression as ive noticed people look at me oddly sometimes when im trying to do something with my hands, its like im just cant get it together to complete things.

I just need some ideas on how I could go about improving things for next year as I dont think I could get through another X no. of months of this.

Jen

farso

I understand that your having troubles with the pressures your under at the moment and im glad that you have been able to get a resit for next year.

Have you thought about going part time with your studies? This would give you more time for reading, letting things sink in and hopefuly not getting too ontop of you?

Do your university offer any mentoring programs? Ours do, whereby someone in a year or two above is basically our personal helper.

top_drawer_2

no, this is my resit year .... i cant go part-time for finance reasons.

I'm already in my 3rd year and the scheme here is a bit disorganised to put it mildly...

farso

Sorry to hear that, is it possible that you could find out yourself a phd/masters student who is willing to help you? Maybe one of your friends from the previous year went on to do this??

TDQO

You must be able to get tutoring or help from the student union... go talk to them , they're there to help! Just go find your president or anyone who works there and they'll be able to sort you right out and offer all sorts of help... What uni are you at?

Oldernotwiser

All degrees are about independent learning, particularly in the third year.

From earlier posts you seem to have turned your back on any sort of student involvement and unfortunately you're suffering for this now. I really think that you should try to get more fully involved with university life in general and you should have the time for this if you've now deferred. Can you use the rest of this academic year to give you a head start on next year? Could you offer to mentor younger students? Helping othersmay well enable you to help yourself as well.

The_One_Who

Go see a doctor and get officially diagnosed. That way you can start to get help for whatever it is. Trying to do more and more work and getting more and more stressed out will not help your situation.

All degrees, especially those outwith the sciences, are focussed on a lot of independent work and reading in the last year. You aim can be to get an article or a book chapter read. If you know something will take you a while then try to start as early as possible and work steadily through it.

littlebird22

Have you tried getting involved with clubs and societies? You do have a lot of work but sometimes an hour away from it playing sport or whatever can really help to focus you when you get back to it. Sometimes it's worth making choices and deciding not to watch TV (or some other solitary activity) to spend time interacting with other people. Most clubs (as long as you aren't looking for a team place) are happy for you to give as much or little commitment as you want. My best friends are all from my sports team and you might find other people doing your course there too. If sport isn't your thing then there is always other clubs too; your students union should point you in the right direction.

As for not knowing the answers to questions, your tutors should have contact time when you can just turn up at their office to ask for help. Don't feel guilty, that is what they are there for.

top_drawer_2

farso wrote: »

Sorry to hear that, is it possible that you could find out yourself a phd/masters student who is willing to help you? Maybe one of your friends from the previous year went on to do this??

I doubt it ... academically (when I can be bothered/motivated I do quite well) so thats not a problem.

I am doing a resit year now, this year!!

The student union is a waste of time for anything really, I asked for some information regarding clubs and societies and they've still to get back to me!

I think joining stuff maybe the best idea though, I think I need structure to my day/week. I dont know what to go for though, its not cheap either! They've increased the joining fees to something like £30 which for me will be one term.

I have tried numberous times to join things I am interested in and it seems that unless its a team thing, the group will often collapse after awhile. I've tried CU and I "didnt fit in" is the nicest way of saying how that turned out.

I am officially diagnosed.... I have depression and I have taken AD's for a long time and am now "better" but I seem to be predisposed to it so am trying to learn to live with it and cope by making my situation better.

Jen

Fire_Fox

You don't sound better hon ... I should know I have been there. Mine is just stress and insomnia now, but I have had depression in the past. My mum also recently suffered, and it was me who sent her to the doctor. If you have been there you understand the 'wonky' thought patterns we have.

Do you have a part-time job at all? My first job back after 18 months on incapacity benefits was a part time bar job which is very sociable, but if you can do a few hours volunteering or paid and related to your course it will get you meeting others, with some structure in your week AND could help your CV/ money situation.

Lastly (and maybe most importantly) you need to take care of your physical health as this has a MASSIVE effect on your mental wellbeing. I started getting better after I joined a gym. I really disliked it at first until I realised how much it worked .... a couple of years on, I work in the NHS, am a qualified fitness instructor and am studying lifestyle medicine at degree level!!!

Exercise does not have to be expensive, studies show that even a brisk walk in the fresh air can lift your mood. There are 'Walking for Health' groups all over the country, search online. Or ask your doctor to recommend you to your local 'Exercise Referral' scheme, or there may be a gym at college? Consider looking into any voluntary mental health groups in your area: they often run cheap group exercise sessions.

From another Jen! x

top_drawer_2

I was thinking today that I should look at getting a part-time job .... I had one up until November but they put so much pressure on me I just couldnt cope with all I had with uni and the job too so I resigned.

Volunteer places seem to think you should only be allowed to do some if your willing to commit to it for the rest of your life or you already have loads of experience. A bar job would be preety good actually ... I used to work in Nightclubs/Bars and really enjoyed it, thinking about it now I cant believe it - I was such a different person then.

The uni upped the fees for the gym this year and I thought it was excessive, I might look into private membership as I used to do that regularly too ;( and I do miss it.

I really wanted to join a running group but the nearest one is miles away and it was a bit of a nightmare the first time I went and I havent been back.

Jen