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Default Sep 09, 2019 at 05:24 PM
  #1
Let me set the stage for you.

I am in a counseling program and my classmates and I are meeting, for the first time. and it's the middle of the term. My motivation to study is waning. I don't want to study but need to. I hope I can get by with the minimum but I am cheating myself and those I will assist in the future.

How or what can you say to help me get over this hump. and get over to the other side?

I have to travel about 1100 miles to the site and I need to get things done. but I can't get the feeling of I'm not good enough out of my head.
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Default Sep 09, 2019 at 05:41 PM
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Hey, nice stage and thank you for sharing. My study habits are not the best. I am currently enrolled in a creative writing course. This course is difficult for me because I am more of a performing artist. This is a free to join class and the class requires reading and writing. We are encouraged to do our writing in the AM hours of the day, but I am more productive writing in PM and reading in AM. To be fair to the instructors and classmates, I am going to make my best effort to do it their way. But so far, my way works better for me. I am half way through the week and have finished my homework and study. <y

Is there a suggested number of hours of preperation the program requires? Like, for instance, if you were a runner or hurdle jumper, would you attempt to hurdle without practice? You might fall on your face if you did, but if you want to get to the other side, I suggest you practice in a way that works for you.

Can you exchange contact info with a classmate to have someone to check-in with?
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Default Sep 09, 2019 at 05:49 PM
  #3
My credits are 5.0. which is about 10-15 hours a week. and I work 32+ hours a week. It's hard to get it all in especially with med changes. which I am having to do another med change back down because the dose isn't' right.

I'm going to try and get some good friends out of the time at the site. But friends are hard to make sometimes. I feel different and not as outgoing as I need to be.

Truth be told, I have gotten in about 8 hours a week. I need more time but don't have the energy or motivation.
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Default Sep 10, 2019 at 11:03 AM
  #4
I really appreciated what you posted in my thread about struggling with graduate school, so I'll try to reciprocate.

Motivation is hard for me right now as well, but what I've found that helps is setting a timer for a certain amount and just sitting down and doing what you can do in that period of time. For example, I usually set a timer for 45 minutes then take a 15 minute break. During the break I'm allowed to do whatever the heck I want, even if it involves sitting and doing nothing or ruminating or whatever. I don't need any rules on the break except the obivous rules like don't break the law, etc.

If you are feeling stressed because you don't have the time, make the periods of time shorter. You can still accomplish something in a 25-minute chunk of time. Just make sure you sit down (I don't know what the nature of your schoolwork is) and only focus on the schoolwork for that period.

Also, in my experience, we cannot wait for inspiration or motivation to strike us. We have to have discipline. Then, motivation comes after that. It runs counter to the traditional, pop-culture view of motivation in which we have to wait for inspiration or motivation to strike us, then we go write the next great American novel or whatever.

Motivation comes as a consequence of action.

I am definitely not trying to minimize the fact that you're working a lot of hours at your job. That is a ton to balance. Is there any way you could cut down on hours at work? Or delegate some of the tasks to others? (Once again, I don't know what the nature of your job is).

I have had some med changes too recently and it cost me in terms of schoolwork. Luckily I was able to put off two final assignments until the end of the year because the people at the school were understanding.
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Default Sep 19, 2019 at 03:05 PM
  #5
The timer idea is helpful. I have tried it. Thank you.

However, I'm really low now after a Pre-Practicum 1, and being told that I need additional help. I know some students say that getting a mentor is helpful but I feel that it is a punishment. WHY ?? I have had trouble with college before. I have two times that I was suspended for anxiety!! No, I'm not kidding. I don't even know if I can do this field or not. I have doubts now. I need a wake-up call or something. I'm scared!! What if the professor/mentor says I can't do this?!

I've been also putting in an application for disability services. I don't like this situation... I need time to adjust back to life after pre-practicum 1. oh and there is a second.
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Default Sep 24, 2019 at 03:15 PM
  #6
I'm not supposed to struggle this much!! I can't do the paper or the post that Needs to be in on Thursday and Sunday. I"m in hot water right now and sinking fast. IT's all fear-based and I don't want to read the papers should I switch to a different topic for the paper??

I hate feeling like I want to SUI or SI!! And I know what T might say and I don't want to hear it.
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Default Sep 25, 2019 at 09:50 AM
  #7
Sorry you are struggling. Have you had a good night's sleep? Yes, I think switching to a different topic is a good thought. How much time have you spent on your current topic? If it is a topic you are interested in, maybe you will find yourself using what you've learned, but towards a different goal. Starting over when you are feeling defeated in not a bad idea. Don't psych yourself out. You can always start over again if you need to. Also, here is a link to PC's SI forum if you need more support.

https://psychcentralforums.com/self-injury/
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Default Sep 27, 2019 at 04:21 PM
  #8
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Originally Posted by puzzclar View Post
The timer idea is helpful. I have tried it. Thank you.

However, I'm really low now after a Pre-Practicum 1, and being told that I need additional help. I know some students say that getting a mentor is helpful but I feel that it is a punishment. WHY ?? I have had trouble with college before. I have two times that I was suspended for anxiety!! No, I'm not kidding. I don't even know if I can do this field or not. I have doubts now. I need a wake-up call or something. I'm scared!! What if the professor/mentor says I can't do this?!

I've been also putting in an application for disability services. I don't like this situation... I need time to adjust back to life after pre-practicum 1. oh and there is a second.
Something I like to remember is that it's possible to succeed in spite of mental health issues. I'm not trying to downplay anything you've said you're going through, but think about how much you've accomplished to this point in spite of everything. Also the other thing that struck me about this post was that people (I hope) are not trying to punish you for your anxiety. Disability services at my alma mater was helpful. I hope you can find your way.
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Default Sep 29, 2019 at 03:26 PM
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Also the other thing that struck me about this post was that people (I hope) are not trying to punish you for your anxiety. Disability services at my alma mater was helpful. I hope you can find your way.
It's not a punishment but a help. but I see it as a punishment. Its because of a past trauma at another university for my A.S.

Your right I have accomplished a lot. I needed that reminder. Sometimes... a lot... I get caught up into the trap of thinking that I'm not good enough. But I have to be enough. I"m stressed.
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Default Oct 01, 2019 at 03:15 PM
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It's not a punishment but a help. but I see it as a punishment. Its because of a past trauma at another university for my A.S.

Your right I have accomplished a lot. I needed that reminder. Sometimes... a lot... I get caught up into the trap of thinking that I'm not good enough. But I have to be enough. I"m stressed.
That must be really hard to deal with, regarding the trauma from the other university. I totally get where you're coming from when you say you see it as a punishment. It's very, very hard to get past that, and I have experienced similar things myself where I think, "oh well they're just trying to be nice to me because I have schizoaffective disorder," or, "oh they're just covering their butts because I'm an awful person," etc., etc. I mean I could go on about the thoughts I've had re that, but I also have thought, hey the philosophy department must really hate my guts and stuff like that. I don't know, I have this weird thing where I like school but I'm also very passive-aggressive about it as well.
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Trig Oct 01, 2019 at 06:54 PM
  #11
It is hard to deal with. I'm glad someone understands.

I had the first of many phone calls that hopefully won't involve crying and then forcing myself not to cry. Yet I need to get this out of me.

Possible trigger:


I don't know what to do. Any way I look at it, something happens to my job. It's good money, and then to add school on top of it.

In class, we are looking at sexuality. and that is a hot button topic for me right now. You think I would be comfortable writing about it but no, I"m not

I"m dammed if I do and dammed if I don't

I can't win. I wish my job was protected but it's not. I could lose my job.
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Default Oct 07, 2019 at 01:16 PM
  #12
How are you doing now?

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Default Oct 09, 2019 at 07:41 PM
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thanks for checking in @bpcyclist,

I got past the difficult subject, but it's not all the way gone. I need to be able to talk about anything and be comfortable.

I am facing a partial hospitalization if things don't improve quickly. Or go back to the clubhouse (a mental health outlet that is about the same distance as the place for the partial) I still need to get done my post for the week and finish the quiz. I need brainpower!! I can type but I can't think that well.... weird right?!

Otherwise not really any change. Saw Pdoc today and she made a change that hopefully will help me sleep longer for a while. But I lost confidence in the med. Are meds worth the effort now??

It's like the tootsie roll pop commercial. How many licks does it take to get to the center? 1, 2, 3, crunch, the world may never know. That one. Only it's what does will work best. meanwhile I remain in a state of stress.... and overwhelmed.
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Default Oct 11, 2019 at 12:48 PM
  #14
I can't study.... The material is way to triggering. How am I going to get through this? I almost need the ER
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Default Oct 11, 2019 at 02:47 PM
  #15
I am sorry you are stressed out. Can you do something to distract yourself for a little while? Go for a walk? Exercise? Watch something on the TV? Draw?

Do you have a routine you do for when you are anxious? Is there a med you can take? Do you do meditation or yoga or mindfulness? Or breathing? Those things all help me. But the thing that helps me most is exercising.

If you are really still suffering after trying some of these things, I would say a call to the pdoc is in order. She may want to prescribe something in addition to what you have going right now. Hang in there. You can get through this. Keep us posted.

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Default Oct 11, 2019 at 04:31 PM
  #16
The biggest issue is I don't want to any more. I know things I should do but have I given up? Meds don't help, nothing is a distractor. I used my addiction and that didn't help. I should call but I can't
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Default Oct 18, 2019 at 09:48 PM
  #17
Hello there, hope you're able to cope for the week since you've posted.

I'm not sure, but would lying at your bed and staring into space help? Like, try to focus on the ambience of your surroundings - maybe the spinning of the fans if you have a fan, or the little whirring of the aircon if you have an airconditioner.

Sometimes it gets really hard for me to do anything, and I'm not really sure what to do as my next step. But then, I guess it's a sign that we are tired, and so we have to take a break.

As for studying the reading materials...I'm not sure if pointing at the very words you're reading will help, but it did help a bit with concentration. Or doing that while voicing out the words, as if you're teaching yourself a new thing. The first step might be hard to make, but it might help you to feel more confident about yourself - you managed to teach yourself new things, and that it's a difficult material too. It's a good reminder that you are worth the while.

I hope it helps...uhm but maybe you would like to share with us the material you're reading about, if you're comfortable with it? So that we all can take on this battle together.
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Default Oct 20, 2019 at 06:47 PM
  #18
I have been inpatient for 5 days. I have got a little done but need to start the final paper. My back hurts which doesn't help. I'm a bit scattered.

I have gotten the posts that I need in but not much reading. Pdoc here will be told tomorrow that studying is still tough. Its not impossible but harder than normal. 3 days I did not have internet Which made it harder. I had my textbook but that was all. I wish I had more energy.
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Default Oct 30, 2019 at 08:28 PM
  #19
I have been home for 2 days. Studying is making things worse. Is it time to give up on the course and retake the course after I am stable? Or is it time for an incomplete?

In the time that I have been home I have read a summary of one of the chapters and wrote one paragraph for a 4-5 paragraph post. And it's due tomorrow by 10:59pm. Can I turn this around? That's the question I'm trying to answer.
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Default Oct 31, 2019 at 08:23 PM
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I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm a student as well, and I understand the struggles of trying to do homework or study when it feels impossible to complete.

I genuinely believe a 4-5 paragraph post is doable in a day, and I believe in you - however, my words may be reaching you too late, unfortunately.

That being said, you should evaluate if the extreme mental burden is worth it to you right now. Putting yourself through a course that is going to cause a severe mental collapse might not be worth it. If you don't think it's manageable right now, there is no shame in retaking the course when you are in a better state of mind.
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