Hi. I’m a math and psychology major, and this semester I thought I’d give a physics minor a go. Unfortunately, physics 2 for minors didn’t fit in my schedule, so I chose to take physics 2 for majors after not having taken physics since high school (I’m a second year student).
For majors, there is a 3 credit lecture course and a 2 credit corequisite lab course. So far, I got a c+ on the first midterm for the lecture course, but I am completely lost in the lab. This weekend, as I was doing the lab and was completely ignored by my lab partner, leaving me clueless about how to use the program involved, I realized both that the lab is preventing me from working as hard as I could in the lecture and that the lab is causing me so much stress that I am slipping quickly and deeply into anorexic and ocd behavior. Last fall, my stress level caused my anorexia and ocd to spiral out of control, and I became very ill. The past two semesters, however, have been much better, and I have been better than I have been in my entire life. I don’t want it to make it seem like I’m running from the first sign of stress - if I withdraw from the lab course it will be the first thing I’ve ever quit. I just really really don’t want to end up back where o was last year, mentally. I know there’s only a few weeks left of the semester, but it comes on quickly. Within 4 weeks last fall I went from being healthy to very sick. I don’t want to go down that path again.
Is having anorexia a legitimate reason to withdraw from a course? Or should I just stick it out? Will a withdraw be very bad? I am currently in the honors program and I plan on going to graduate school for a psychology related field when I graduate or after working for a few years. Will a W on my transcript hinder my plans?
Thank you so much. I apologize that this is all over the place.
It may be a legit reason for now, since you are grapling with the reality that stress and poor performance triggers your symptoms. However, you need to get help to work on a more appropriate reaction to stress because you can’t withdraw from every class that you are going to take that stresses you out and triggers your symptoms. You also can’t withdraw from too many classes before the length of your program starts extending and costing you or your parents a lot more money. If you want to take harder classes and continue on to graduate school you are going to have master other ways of coping with stress and being discouraged.
So to answer your question, it may be a legit reason for now, but you are going to have to work on it and find a healthier way to cope in the long run.
Thank you for your reply! I want to stress that this is not what I automatically do when I encounter stress. I encountered stress the past two semesters and it was alright. I am very sorry that I have such a selfish disease. I promise that I have dealt with more stress than this course is inducing and I was fine - I feel that the anorexia is separate and I need to have the time to address it. Also I have too many credits but will need 4 full years to finish my majors, so earning less credits this semester may help my financial aid in the long run.
Coping with serious mental illnesses is an ongoing process and it may affect you more or less throughout your life. IIt sounds like withdrawing will not lead to significant consequences this time. However, like I said in my post above, it is important that you continue to address your mental health needs and coping strategies. While OCD can be very disturbing, stressful in and of itself and time consuming, anorexia is a potentially life threatening illness that requires ongoing treatment. To be successful in college and career is going to require that you make sure to take care of these serious illnesses in a way that is functional.
My initial thought is that your health comes first. You seem to know yourself quite well and your thinking seems very rational.
I think you should speak with your parents and a therapist or counselor if you have a strong established relationship.
Additionally, do you have an academic advisor that you are comfortable speaking to?
My last thought is the same as my first, your health and well being should be your absolute priority.
Don’t go it alone, get your support network involved!
You also need to discuss how dropping the class will affect your Honors status or if it will affect any scholarships you may have. Most schools have credit requirements to maintain your merit as well as enrollment in the Honors program. That being said your health is important. Are you addressing these issues with a mental health professionals and currently receiving tx? ( you don’t need to disclose that publicly ) If not , that should be your first step. If you are , I suggest you address your concerns with them to get some suggestions.
@jllyj3 - You are obviously smart, strong and insightful, so you must know (intellectually at least) that your illness does not define you, and neither do other people. So please use that intelligence and strength to speak to somebody that is close to you, or somebody that understands the illness and its consequences. You can win the battle, but you need to start by reaching out to someone today. College is important, but nothing matters as much as your health. Your long term goal, as I understand, is to become a psychologist. You want to help other people work through difficult times, perhaps because you understand that nobody should face such struggles alone. Use that same insight to allow others to help you. NYU has incredible resources. They want to help. Please let them. Then you can make the decisions about your class. No single class will ever define your academic prowess or limit your career. Show your strength right now by reaching out for help. Please.
Yes. This is just my “mom” opinion but you have to take this seriously, and take care of yourself first. Most people do not have a good understanding of anorexia, and how serious it can be.
You sound intelligent and reasonable to me, but don’t try to handle this on your own. Get with a therapist and a doctor whom you trust. Take one step at a time. Try to talk with a dean who can help you understand the potential ramifications of a W.
The point of school is to support your life. Your life is not about doing everything perfectly at school. Your life is precious and important.