Dropping out of School because of Mental Health

[Amiri]

I am a university student, about a week into my third year of obtaining my degree. I'm a commuter and I don't live on campus. I am not part of any clubs, I don't have any friends at school, and no professors or members of faculty know me by name. I pretty much go there to attend class, write my notes, and go home. My fear of social interaction has made it a pretty bleak university experience, but I'm happy because I'm still getting my degree.

However, things changed this year. Suddenly, I can't even sit in class. I have a panic attack in almost every class that I am in and usually gather my things and leave within 5-10 minutes of the lecture. Now, I'm too afraid to even go to class.

Do you think professors will be accommodating if I tell them about my condition? Or do you think I need to take a break from life (drop out of school) for a few months and focus strictly on my mental health?

please comment any advice or opinions...I'm desperate.

 

[Concernedgal]

So just to clarify. . You want to drop out because you have developed social anxiety? I know sweetie. .. believe me. .. I know how uncomfortable it is to feel trapped and panicky when out in public or in a crowd. If I were you. . I would stick with it. The 1 thing that I know for a fact is that anxiety is a "life taker". And you can't let it take your life. YOU JUST CAN'T. Promise me you'll stay in school. It's a slippery slope. If you let anxiety keep you from doing this ... then you will probably let it keep you from doing other things. Let me give you an example. . I've had my current job for about 3 years now but, before I had this job... I didn't work for a long time because of my anxiety. One day I decided to just go for it because I knew that if I had a panic attack it would be uncomfortable but, it wouldn't kill me. So it's been 3 years now and I am happier than I have ever been and it's all because I said to my anxiety. .. ( go ahead, do it, make me feel uncomfortable, make me feel like I can't breathe ,make me feel nervous . I don't care! Just go right ahead and make me feel this way and eventually. .. I won the battle but, don't get me wrong though.. I didn't win the war but, I will always have that... I will always have the knowledge of k nowing that if it happens ... if I feel panic.. I can win . I will win and anxiety will not take away my life. Don't let it take yours. Stay with it. Stay in school and I promise that if you stick with it and you stand up to anxiety. . You will earn just a little more self confidence. Like I have. Go to your general practitioner and talk to him about this and maybe he or she can start you on some type of drug therapy. Do what I do.. have a kit. My kit contains a snack, a anti anxiety pill and just in case I have a bad attack. .. I have 911 on speed dial.

 

[janemariesayed]

It is a great idea to talk with one of your lecturers. There is probably a body within your college that gives therapy and you could sign yourself up for it. Failing that, as @Concernedgal has suggested to go to your own doctor and get help. But do try to keep up with your studies and go for that degree.

 

[Rinka]

@Amiri welcome to the forum.
University is hard, especially when you have anxiety or panic attacks. I did it, I dropped out of uni. I still think to myself that I should have finished, that I should have just squeezed my bum together and finished it. I dropped out of three degree courses. Biotechnology, Anthropology and Social work.
The first two defiantly out of anxiety but the last one I dropped out, because I needed to develop myself and felt stuck and depressed and needed to leave, leave the course, leave the country (literally moved from Germany to England)

I do have a good job now, a partner and a doggy. But that all came after I decided not to focus on my mental health but to focus on me as a person and focus on developing myself.
The thing is though, i do have those things and I am happy with where I am now, but there will always be the regret the feeling of being a looser of giving in and giving up. This makes me depressed sometimes and it can be hard to get out of it.

The thing is, if you give in to your mental health then your mental health starts to control you and you lose control over your life.