So during my junior year, I got anxiety and suffered from the physical symptoms of it. They got pretty severe. I would get panic attacks and everything. For a while, I took it as a terminal illness. I googled my symptoms and started to panic because everything led to a terminal illness. I was so scared I held this in for a good while. After a couple months, I then racked up the courage and went to a doctor and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. This affected my grades for the second semester of junior year. Recently, my guidance counselor asked everyone to fill out a student questionnaire so she can write better recommendation letters for us. One question asked if there was any situation or illness that we feel may have impacted our grades or involvement in social activities, so I wrote about my situation from junior year. I think she wrote about this in my recommendation letter. Do you think this makes me seem silly to colleges? I mean I didn’t think it was silly before, but now thinking about it, I feel kind of childish for not seeing a doctor earlier about my anxiety. I feel childish for falsely diagnosing myself with a deadly illness. I am not sure if me revealing this to my guidance counselor on that questionnaire was such a good idea. By the way, I did not write my college essay or supplements on this topic.
I would talk to your GC. Tell her she has your permission to discuss that you had a medical issue, but NOT to reveal what that issue is in recommendations. It is probably too late for any that she sent, but she could change any that haven’t gone out yet.
Having an explanation for bad grades is much better than not having one at all.
I mean she sent it out already, but my concern is, will this make me seem childish or am I just overthinking it? I mean right now I am having mixed feelings. Before I didn’t think it made me seem childish, but now I guess the regret of not coming out about it earlier makes me feel childish. What I am trying to say is does this make me seem silly? By the way the grades weren’t too bad, it was mainly just one bad grade, and the rest of the grades slipped a little bit but not much.
No no…you had a physical issue (anxiety is a physical issue related to brain chemistry), took note that you had one, and then took steps to rectify it. Also, the ironic thing about anxiety is that people with anxiety are relucttant to make a doctors appointment because of, wait for it, …ANXIETY. Thinking you were dying was because of ANXIETY.
The key in the future is to note when the Anxiety Monster is talking to you.
Colleges want to see you will do well. Having addressed your anxiety you should do much better!
Here are my thoughts on picking a college for someone with anxiety:
I think two words sum up anxiety… What if? You could probably write reams. Life presents lots of what iffing and rational thinking might not help…I wasn’t hit by the speeding train… Instead, force yourself to think about driving speed and control, staying within lines, turning corners sharply and other important questions to divert iffing. Also, start taking deep breathes and exhaling slowly. Taking charge does help control overt anxiety and minimize trembling, fiddling and so on.
Do I really, really want to attend x school. Yes. Is there anything I could do to improve chances? No. Instead, focus on current demands and do something different if you start becoming anxious about an adverse decision. If you don’t start forcing calm by whatever works to sooth, then you may not be in good emotional shape to accept an offer. Alternatively, think carefully about alternative choices if the worst happens. Where would you like to go or do if you aren’t admitted and plan for that option.
About the counselor. What she did is done. I would not try to mitigate her letter now. Instead, make clear plans to minimize anxiety. Like any condition you must learn to live with anxiety. Get a formal diagnosis, get therapy that helps you control thean episode, talk to a doctor about medication. Surely, you would not tell a diabetic to buck up and not use insulin? Anxiety is another chronic medical condition that you need to manage in a way that is most successful for you.
Getting a clear understanding of anxiety and explaining your efforts to minimize its impact on learning can help you exp!ain why anxiety can be handled in an academic environment is the idea you want to convey to admissions, if asked. Finally, check into the campus disability services to see about accommodations and what you need to submit to get them.