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Post by mischa on Mar 21, 2012 8:26:43 GMT
I was just wondering has anyone who goes to university or college told their lecturer or tutor about their odour?
Its just that i enrolled back in university (i dropped out some time ago because I couldn't deal with the humiliation) and after only 2 weeks feel like I cant cope again. Sometimes I wonder if i should tell my tutors or lecturers about my problem...and then maybe they could email me lecture slide shows and what happens in tutorials things like that.
I basically study every hour each day for my classes at home (ive been too scared to go to a class), but its difficult to know if your even following the right path. I dont know if they would believe me or even care...i remember reading something about a lecturer laughing at a girl who told them. :/
tomorrow i need to go to the city to hand in my assignment. but im so scared to catch the bus, im already doing a big boo hoo cry over it right now. - last time I only lasted 2 minutes then got off and walked home really slowly for three hours, because i couldn't go back home early - my sister was there and she would ask why i was not at university.
im so freaked out about the 20 minute bus ride, im considering just dropping out this semester and going back in the second half of the year. But im really noticing times going by fast. im 21 and its going to take 2 years to finish my degree which i started when i was 18.
sorry no one needed to read all that. Once you get started writing about the crap in your life its hard to stop.
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Post by mischa on Mar 21, 2012 8:32:02 GMT
oops...i think i posted on the wrong board..maybe it should of gone to general board... if so....sorry.
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Hope
New Member
Posts: 19
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Post by Hope on Mar 21, 2012 21:48:16 GMT
Hi, I finished university last year and suffered with this problem for the whole of my 3rd year.
I know that it is really difficult going out, and worse of all sitting in a lecture theatre for 1-2 hours and not being able to leave but you really need to force yourself to go. If you avoid the situation by not taking a bus journey or going to lectures your anxiety is going to get worse and prevent you from doing other things. I used to avoid things too and still do on occasions but if you think about it you are avoiding these situations because you are worried what other people will think of you. While it is hard not to consider others reactions you have the right to live your life how you want to live it and getting your education is obviously important to you.
If it helps then tell your tutor you suffer health problems and need the slides, but don't use them sending the slides as an excuse not to go to lectures.
Really if you make yourself do things it will lessen the uncomfortable feeling of doing them. For example I used to be a nervous wreck when taking the train I used to get off when peoples reactions were really bad and I would have to wait half an hour for the next train. Now I use coping strategies to help me stay on the train.
Coping strategies for the bus, have an ipod handy so you don't have to listen to others voices, have reading material too so that you don't have to make eye contact. I just want to note that these strategies are probably not the best advice because they are also avoidant strategies and we should really be trying to change our own thought patterns that we have nothing to be ashamed about, but if this helps you initially to stay on that bus ride.
Try to set yourself small targets such as joining a really long queue in a shop, or staying on a bus for several stops and then gradually lengthening the time you stay on the bus etc. Try to increase the number of lectures so that you know that you can do it because if you do decide to drop out and restart next semester you know that although going to lectures may be uncomfortable you will be able to manage and go to all your lectures. Check out if your uni has a health and well being centre where you can talk to a councillor about your problems as they could provide some individual support.
Also try and think about why you are avoiding the lectures and write down all those reasons. While these reasons may be embarassing do they actually matter in reality? Is someone talking about the smell in the room worse than having no degree? Is someone laughing at you worse than having a life threatening illness? These are just some methods that help me try and confront things.
Good luck with that bus ride!
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Post by miss on Mar 23, 2012 11:07:41 GMT
ah thanks so much! that was really helpful stuff. Sometimes it just nice to hear that someone has gone through it successfully.
But well, I chickened out. I had my assignment all ready but I just couldn't bring myself to go and hand it in. Instead I decided to have a mini emotional private outburst. It sucks seeing how pathetic this weird disorder can make you. Hope to be strong like you and other people.
I'm going to withdraw from my classes. I think I kind of have to now. I needed to hand in all assignments to pass the class. So I screwed that one up, and I have test coming up in a week for my other class. I thought I was studying what I needed to, but they recently put up a slide for what to study and I had been going in the total opposite direction to it. -_-
Im really fricken determined to stick to my diet for the 3 months before next semester. If I do that and the smell is still there when I go to classes, well I still know I have been doing everything I can think of to get rid of the smell and everyone can just shove it up their bums and deal with it. I just hope all my class withdrawls and exams I did not sit does not make them put me on academic probation.
urgh but then again what you have written really makes me want to try and go to class. I dont know...im conflicted. Last time I made it to the class room, saw everybody and turned around and made a beeline for the exit. I guess I just need to make a decision and see it through.
Thanks again, i really mean it when I say what you wrote to me was helpful. im really grateful and am going to try and catch the bus for longer and longer periods.
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