I've been there, more than once. I don't know you or your situation, but here's what worked for me...

The first time depression hit me hard, and I tanked the semester. I found myself on scholastic probation. The second time PTSD stressors and relationship problems launched me into severe depression... this time I withdrew from the semester, found a therapist and a job... it wasn't too long before I was on the mend and having fun. I returned to school healthier for my final year managed to get work done again. I graduated. My GPA over those 5 years was a roller coaster ride... there were times when I just needed to take a break and recover.

Similar thing happened to me on my crew team. I threw out my back and wanted to be strong and row through it, wanted to stay with the team. I only aggravated it more, re-injuring it. My coach taught me that there was a time to be strong and a time to be smart. He steered me away from the boats, the weights, and rowing machines. I spent the next few months going to rehab, doing stretching exercises for 1.5 hours a day, and running up and down parking garages to stay in shape. I came back healed and strong, and made it to Nationals by the end of the season.

It's a coping mechanism that's served me well in my adult life... perhaps it's an option worth considering?

Man! I was so happy to find a thread on struggling with PTSD while trying to get through college! I started back to college while still living in a DV shelter. Try having to discuss the dynamics of the cycle of abuse in a Psych class when you are a resident in a DV shelter!! I didn't make any noise but was shaking and crying the whole class. Finally my prof asked for a voluntary show of hands of those who had experienced domestic abuse...the number of hands was heart breaking. She talked with me after class and I explained my situation to her. She was so supportive and commended me for having the courage to be in college as well as sit through our discussion that day without fleeing the room in tears.

Some people thought it was insane to put even more pressure on myself by going back to school but I had to do something. I have to be able to survive, I never want to be financially dependent on a man AGAIN!! I am hearing impaired, have degenerative disc disease, have a knee that has been operated on 5 times and a bunch of other health issues. Finding work that I can physically handle hasn't been easy. I'm going for a Commercial Art degree, something that I can handle physically. It's been rough though, trying to deal with my symptoms, getting through my divorce, my medical problems etc. etc. I finally got a decent job that I could handle physically in October so now I am juggling that too. I was a wreck last semester! I am cutting back my class load from 5 classes to 3 this semester though. A big problem for me is sleep. I get off work at 1:30am most nights so by the time I get home and wind down...I'm lucky to be asleep by 4am...then I have to get up to go to classes. I toss and turn due to nightmares, pain, and breathing issues due to chronic sinus problems. I wake up feeling like I never went to sleep at all. I've gone to take major tests on the same days I had epiderals in my spine done but on the flip side I've missed classes cuz I just couldn't go beyond being huddled under my covers in a ball crying my eyes out and shaking in my dark room all damn day. My ex has continued to cause me problems and I have had to drop classes due to some of the crap he has pulled! It's rough man, and I have to juggle joint custody of my daughter as well, but I keep trying to tell myself that SLOW GOING IS BETTER THAN NO GOING!!!! I won't graduate as quickly as the kid sitting next to me who is my son's age, who still lives at home with Mom and Dad and has no real responsibilities other than school, but I WILL GRADUATE!!!

I have been fascinated by psych from an early age. My step satan had a degree in social work ( which made him a more effective manipulator and abuser unfortunately ), he had a lot of psych and soc books around and I always found them fascinating. I have aced the 2 college level psych classes I have taken and will be taking a 3rd this semester. I wrestle with changing my major to psych at times so I was poking around on the University of Louisville's site the other night to research maybe transferring there. I ran across a pdf of the Psychology departments newsletter for Dec 07. I found this in it and I cried while I read it.

From the Corner Office: A Holiday Salute to Unsung Heroes

Students who are caring for aging, sick or dependent relatives, as well as themselves, never knowing when they will be needed for emergencies or called with bad news…

Students who are parents, especially those who are single parents with young children, juggling day care, ear infections and “quality time” issues…

Returning students who are rusty in their skills but optimistic and brave, wanting to complete what they started decades ago…

Students who have had to change their majors, career plans and self-images to accommodate unanticipated realities but who keep going…

Mentors, tutors, RA’s, SOS-ers, etc. who give back to their fellows with their time, caring, wisdom and experience…

Students with the sheer guts to study abroad in countries with different cultures, languages and world-views, especially those who live with families abroad…

International students with the sheer guts to come here to study without friends, family, language fluency or cultural support and nonetheless succeed…

Students from families who may not support them financially or emotionally who manage to make it on their own…

Older students with the courage to be in class with tech-savvy youngsters, “learning newer methods with older brains”…

Students who are carrying a full load academically and a full-time job, something that is not supposed to be possible and certainly isn’t “feasible”…

Disabled, chronically ill or emotionally troubled students who carry additional burdens and work twice as hard to succeed…

Student athletes in the “forgotten” sports who train just as hard for just as many hours while carrying full loads but are rarely acknowledged for their commitment and prowess…

Our deployed soldiers who are trying to live two lives at one time and risking it all…

May you reap the rewards you have been working for so hard in the new year to come! I admire and respect all of you immensely.

Alison Sommers
Academic Advisor


I can see myself in there several times, I'm sure the rest of you can see yourselves and situations in there as well. I'm proud of ALL of us for even attempting to get through college while we are dealing with so many other heavy burdens.