<p>Hi everyone, I'm new here and I'm in need of some advice. I finished my first year of Uni and it didn't end very well. I've suffered with social anxiety my entire life and the stress of college made it worse. I managed to make it out of my first semester with good grades, but my grades suffered tremendously in the spring. I'm on academic probation and I feel really horrible because I've always done well in school. On top of that I have no idea what I should major in. I entered as a business student and I planned on being in advertisement or management, but because I didn't do well in my math class which is a prerequisite for ALL of the upper level business classes my advisor suggested that I look into other things. I'm going to see my doctor next week to talk about medication and maybe therapy, but I'm not sure If I'll be ready to go back to school. On the other hand I know in order to figure out what I want to do with my life I have to get out of my small hometown and explore, I jut don't really know where to start, does anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>You know yourself better than anyone else - self care and your health should always be a priority over education or anything else for that matter; you can always go back to school, but sacrificing your mental health might have irreparable ramifications for the rest of your life. If you think a semester off to take care of yourself will benefit you in the long run, even if it might make things at the moment a little tricky, then do that. 20 years down the road you won’t remember the semester you took off from college and whatever negligible opportunities you lost - however, you’ll be thankful for the stress you saved yourself and your health by doing so. </p>
<p>At my future school they have therapists for this exact situation. I would check out your school’s mental health facilities to see if they have anyone you can talk too. At my future school you get 12 free visits a semester.</p>
<p>Your health is of utmost important. For the time being, concentrate on getting yourself well. </p>
<p>Have you talked to your parents/family about this? If you haven’t, please do. They are generally the ones that can best help you through this difficult time. </p>
<p>I must warn you, don’t assume that when you get meds, you’re going to suddenly feel better or calmer. Anti-anxiety/anti-depression meds take about 3 weeks before you start to notice significant change. Not everyone gets on the “right” meds the first time around (or the second, or the third). It can be a process that takes months. </p>
<p>I would give yourself until the end of July and see how you’re feeling and how you feel about going back. Taking a semester off, especially for a medical reason, is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. </p>
<p>Take things one step at a time. Get yourself healthy first and THEN think about what you want to do about college and your future. </p>
<p>Best of luck. I promise, it gets better. I’m glad that you’re getting help. </p>
<p>I was having similar problems and I took last semester off. It helped A LOT. I also worked full time and that helped me a lot as well (I had never had a job and was a bit of a spoiled kid!). My parents say I matured a lot these past few months and I personally feel I got better and now I feel more confident. I know what I want to do in school and I am more than ready to go back and get all As.</p>
<p>However, my problems don’t seem as severe as yours so I did not seek medical help of any kind, but that is a choice as well.</p>
@Matachines,What kind of job did you do, that you felt comfortable at full time? We are also thinking about options in a similiar situation. Thanks
Do what you think is best for your health!
If you think you can handle it, take one class. And see how it makes you feel.
@overseasmom I had a service/minimum wage job. Usually those don’t seem good at all but mine gave me autonomy and was not boring. I was the only person in a small fast food/restaurant thing in a supermarket. I had to set everything up and serve customers while making sure I clean and put everything away by closing time.
It was pretty challenging, but the reason I said it helped was because first it helped my self esteem knowing I could do all that by myself (while other employees my age got fired after two weeks!), and because well, it reminded me that if I don’t graduate college I may be stuck in a job like that forever!
I would say a good time off job is something like I had: anything that isn’t brain dead easy. No cart pushing or shelf organizing. Preferably it’d be something your son/daughter is interested in, but yeah, something that helps their confidence and responsibility.
Well getting better is the first thing you should do. As far as college it’s not going anywhere and It will always be there. If you need a break, take it then pick up where you left off whether it’s at a university or a community college. Do what you feel will be most beneficial to yourself. It is your life after all.