Hello

I've been on a very very rough path with my mental health @For26 . I know how much it hurts to be stigmatised.

I'm here to share the hope of recovery. It's possible.

I'm also glad you have found us.

@tyme, I am sorry you have been through such hard times. Did you ever feel like you were back where you started when things turned bad, if so how did you manage? I am studying and have achieved well but now feel like I am not capable at all, I feel fear that I can't do the work now, I am struggling to think clearly. If you or anyone else has some thoughts I would be glad to hear. Thank you for working towards change in understanding mental heath.

@fluffylight, thank you for sharing your thoughts. You will get through your study, don't give up, you can do it. I am scared to feel mentally scattered again and concentrating is taking so much effort. It feels like everything will be taken away and I will fail because I am very tired. I don't want to fail. Maybe I just need to not pressure myself so much right now. I have made progress and I am certain you have too. Mental health doesn't get to disqualify us from trying and achieving heh. Thank you for talking to me.

Thank you for your kind words 💛

You're right we can do it, and we have done it before, lets keep going.

I am on the same boat, it is nice that there is mutuality in this struggle!

Something that also helps me is having accessibility support for my mental health needs from my uni. Does your study provider have any support for study for mental health needs?

One of our community guides have created a space for all things study if it is something that would support you 🙂 >>>>> https://saneforums.org/t5/Social-Spaces/Studying-support/m-p/1309883/highlight/true#M337914

Also wondered if this is something that would be supportive for >>>> Work and study support | headspace (support for 15-25y)

fluffylight xx

Hi @ Fluffylight, thanks for the link to the study space, I think there are good ideas and it will be a place to join in. I did have study support but I ended it before placement as my diagnosis is misunderstood, and I believed it would reduce my options. My therapy relationship ended and I am not prepared to go into therapy again at this time to get another study support plan for uni. I have managed better today and made some progress.

Hi @For26

Sending you hi-5's for the progress you made today!

What are ways you can get support yourself without a support plan from uni?

I know it can be very difficult.. how many units are you doing?

I don't start until next week but I'm already behind 😅

@fluffylight, thank you! Haha you will be ok 👍😊 I was doing 3 subjects but dropped one to ease the pressure, I am studying part time but had increased my study load to full time. I didn't use my adjustments, it was a safety net so hopefully with self care I will get through.....without the net 😅

Thank you for the motivation 😊 @For26

Ah.. I do think my adjustments are a safety net too.. I don't know how my anxiety will be without it 😩

Tell me about this self care! I hope to reach a place where uni will be less taxing on my mental health..

@fluffylight, it is not easy, I spent a whole day trying to do one simple thing a few days ago and I was stuck, like in mud, physically, emotionally and mentally. I felt defeated and questioned why I started studying. It was the easier subject but it threw me and it was the one I dropped for now. Self care is different for everyone but for me it is a mental break and I can find it by going to see a movie....the whole experience allows my mind to switch off and reset somehow..... I try to be more gentle with myself but I am a very hard task master at times and expect perfection to keep me safe.....all old coping strategies that I try to recognise but sometimes the horse bolts before I even know it and I am lost again and alone, trauma bites back when you least suspect it. I don't have one answer, other than be gentle with yourself and know how far you have come and be your own cheer leader, you deserve it! I get so anxious over saying or doing the wrong thing, relationships are super hard for me and my track record is not goid so I need to own my part in that.

See I don't know the answers either, sorry for the down turn. @ moderator please remove if not ok