depression and exam tomorrow!
Hi I can seem toget out this depressed mood I'm in.I had exams past week too and the y didn't go well because i haven't been able to concentrate all semester.I'm doing psychology which I would say is not tooo difficult if you prepare in advance.But I'm finding it extremely difficult o concentrate due to my depression.I haven't told my teacher about it until last night in an email which they won't see till tomorrow and I have exams this week.Can someone help me, just distract me or anything I don't know or give me any advice.I usually work really hard for exams but I think I'm going to fail if I don'tstrat revising asap!
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I'm sorry to hear about your situation. What you have to do though is find somewhere where you won't be easily distracted. I find it impossible to revise at my house because I just go on Facebook or whatever, so I go to the library where I can concentrate better.
Don't give up! All you can do is try your hardest for the exam tomorrow. It's not the end of the world whatsoever if you don't perform well in the exam.
Don't give up! All you can do is try your hardest for the exam tomorrow. It's not the end of the world whatsoever if you don't perform well in the exam.
Yes i kept telling myself not to give up but i just canot concentrate no matter what.Anyone know if depression is a valid reason for mitigating circumstance at uni? because i literally feel depressed 24/7 for the last year and just don't have the ability at the moment to sit and revise for exams. I want to do them in July but i got a feeling i left it too late for the mitigating circumstance because i was too embarrassed to tell my tutors about it before when it started to get worse!
Original post by ns92
Yes i kept telling myself not to give up but i just canot concentrate no matter what.Anyone know if depression is a valid reason for mitigating circumstance at uni? because i literally feel depressed 24/7 for the last year and just don't have the ability at the moment to sit and revise for exams. I want to do them in July but i got a feeling i left it too late for the mitigating circumstance because i was too embarrassed to tell my tutors about it before when it started to get worse!
It is a mitigating circumstance yes but not right before the exams..you would've have to have been diagnosed with it by a doctor and have submitted the forms in advance. There is literally nothing you can do about that now, the best thing to do would be have a bath or something then try to revise. If it goes badly it might be worth seeking medical help after and submitting this before any retakes you have to do. They may let you resit the year if you fail and have a doctor's note by then but you really need to be diagnosed with it asap if you haven't already
Original post by ns92
Yes i kept telling myself not to give up but i just canot concentrate no matter what.Anyone know if depression is a valid reason for mitigating circumstance at uni? because i literally feel depressed 24/7 for the last year and just don't have the ability at the moment to sit and revise for exams. I want to do them in July but i got a feeling i left it too late for the mitigating circumstance because i was too embarrassed to tell my tutors about it before when it started to get worse!
Yes it is a mitigating circumstance but as previous poster said I think it may be too late unfortunately.
Honestly, don't let it get you down if it is indeed too late to submit it as a mitigating circumstance. Just try your best in the exams, and hopefully the lesson you have learned from this is not to hide your feelings. A problem shared is a problem halved.
Good luck
Original post by ns92
I'm just scared if i have to retake the year that i will become even more depressed as i feel depressed thinking that could happen.do uni's let you retake only the summer exams the following year if you didnt do too bad in the coursework, instead ofhaving to do everything again?
I'm guessing it'll depend on the uni, but I think if you have any exams which you fail and need to pass in, then they will have a resit in late August. So you'll have a 2nd chance.
I know quite a few people who suffer / have suffered from depression so I'm happy to keep answering your questions. Good luck!
Original post by ns92
Hi I can seem toget out this depressed mood I'm in.I had exams past week too and the y didn't go well because i haven't been able to concentrate all semester.I'm doing psychology which I would say is not tooo difficult if you prepare in advance.But I'm finding it extremely difficult o concentrate due to my depression.I haven't told my teacher about it until last night in an email which they won't see till tomorrow and I have exams this week.Can someone help me, just distract me or anything I don't know or give me any advice.I usually work really hard for exams but I think I'm going to fail if I don'tstrat revising asap!
Hey I'm sorry to hear about your situation, I can empathise. I've had that situation before a few times with depression and stress. Do your best to calm down for the exam and then forget about it until later and work on getting better. I suggest you go to see a doctor about it ASAP so they can help you too. It's no big deal going to see them- they don't make a fuss and they do believe what you say.
I think in some cases you can apply after an exam but I think they're for things that happened on the day that meant you couldn't make it and you're probably better off retaking next year anyway cos the most you can get is 5% added and that's hardly worth the effort of applying.
If you go see a doc and talk to your tutors it will get a lot easier. You'd be surprised how quickly you can improve with the right help. But for now just do what you can and don't pressure yourself, it's not your fault and you're not alone x
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Original post by ns92
Hi I can seem toget out this depressed mood I'm in.I had exams past week too and the y didn't go well because i haven't been able to concentrate all semester.I'm doing psychology which I would say is not tooo difficult if you prepare in advance.But I'm finding it extremely difficult o concentrate due to my depression.I haven't told my teacher about it until last night in an email which they won't see till tomorrow and I have exams this week.Can someone help me, just distract me or anything I don't know or give me any advice.I usually work really hard for exams but I think I'm going to fail if I don'tstrat revising asap!
Hi NS,
Depression does count as a mitigating circumstance and contrary to other posters responses at a lot of universities if you have an official diagnosis and your condition flares up over exam times then you can miss an exam and provide a GP letter from the day of the exam.
You would need to already have a diagnosis and to state in an extenuating circumstances form the way in which your depression prevented you from taking the exam. You'd attach your doctor's note to this form.
There may be some universities that won't allow this but if you genuinely can't sit the exam and have a diagnosis and doc's note then they should.
If you do miss an exam you need to tell your tutor/whomever you're supposed to contact within a couple of days of the exam.
Obviously if you are able to sit the exam then it might be best to sit it this week. The situation might not improve that much by July and you'll have the whole summer free if you sit it but I know from experience that mental illness can be paralysing so it's your decision.
the exam is at 10 in the morning tommorow and literally all day i have done nothing, because i cant concentrate. I don't have a diagnosis, i have until 26h may to apply for mitigating circumstance, do you think if i get a diagnosis by then along with the doctor's note that my uni will accept it?my uni also has a fit to sit policy so if i sit the exam i can't apply for mc afterwards.
also if i do sit them and fail i dont want to have to resit and have the mark capped to 40% and i don't know anything about what happens if you repeat a year and student fianance
also if i do sit them and fail i dont want to have to resit and have the mark capped to 40% and i don't know anything about what happens if you repeat a year and student fianance
Original post by ns92
the exam is at 10 in the morning tommorow and literally all day i have done nothing, because i cant concentrate. I don't have a diagnosis, i have until 26h may to apply for mitigating circumstance, do you think if i get a diagnosis by then along with the doctor's note that my uni will accept it?my uni also has a fit to sit policy so if i sit the exam i can't apply for mc afterwards.
also if i do sit them and fail i dont want to have to resit and have the mark capped to 40% and i don't know anything about what happens if you repeat a year and student fianance
also if i do sit them and fail i dont want to have to resit and have the mark capped to 40% and i don't know anything about what happens if you repeat a year and student fianance
You're in a really risky position because you don't have a diagnosis and you can't guarantee you will get one either, depression might not be the problem/a doctor might say it's something else. If your uni has the fit to sit policy perhaps it would be better to not go to the exam, make an emergency appointment for the doctor tomorrow and go tomorrow? And tell your uni you're having mental health issues tomorrow and are seeking medical help. Do you have any further exams? If you sit them and fail the normal process will apply if they have fit to sit policy presumably? So you would have to resit have it capped or retake. It sounds like you need to get a diagnosis ASAP e.g. tomorrow or risk having to resit and have the 40 cap..
It's probably partially stress that's making you feel you can't do it. I don't know about the rules surrounding uni exams so I can't guarantee anything sadly but I'd suggest you do your best in the exam and then work from there. Try to get a diagnosis and a letter from your doctor. It may not work but its definitely worth a try.
If you do decide to miss the exam do the same thing. Apply for mitigating circumstances meaning you couldn't make it and ask for a doctors note.
Whatever you decide to do keep your uni informed so they can help you and be honest.
Good luck
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If you do decide to miss the exam do the same thing. Apply for mitigating circumstances meaning you couldn't make it and ask for a doctors note.
Whatever you decide to do keep your uni informed so they can help you and be honest.
Good luck
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Original post by Kindred
Hey I'm sorry to hear about your situation, I can empathise. I've had that situation before a few times with depression and stress. Do your best to calm down for the exam and then forget about it until later and work on getting better. I suggest you go to see a doctor about it ASAP so they can help you too. It's no big deal going to see them- they don't make a fuss and they do believe what you say.
I think in some cases you can apply after an exam but I think they're for things that happened on the day that meant you couldn't make it and you're probably better off retaking next year anyway cos the most you can get is 5% added and that's hardly worth the effort of applying.
If you go see a doc and talk to your tutors it will get a lot easier. You'd be surprised how quickly you can improve with the right help. But for now just do what you can and don't pressure yourself, it's not your fault and you're not alone x
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I think in some cases you can apply after an exam but I think they're for things that happened on the day that meant you couldn't make it and you're probably better off retaking next year anyway cos the most you can get is 5% added and that's hardly worth the effort of applying.
If you go see a doc and talk to your tutors it will get a lot easier. You'd be surprised how quickly you can improve with the right help. But for now just do what you can and don't pressure yourself, it's not your fault and you're not alone x
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i'm not sure if my uni (westminster) lets us retake the year, i think i would have to go to another uni which i really dont want to do.
Write a letter to yourself or diary entry type thing or even better if there is someone your upset surrounds write a letter to them. Write it as if they will never see it and flesh out all your thoughts. Use swear words, say things you wouldn't normally say. Just let it all out on paper. You should feel quite released when you're done.
I had to do it earlier today I'm also pretty low at the moment. Last exam in 4 days.
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I had to do it earlier today I'm also pretty low at the moment. Last exam in 4 days.
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Original post by ns92
i'm not sure if my uni (westminster) lets us retake the year, i think i would have to go to another uni which i really dont want to do.
The only problem I think you may face is also that being diagnosed for depression takes time. The GP won't diagnose you, they will refer you to the mental health department for your area and you will need a meeting with them before you receive a full diagnosis/treatment. Simply due to the amount of time it takes you are probably better off sitting the exam because if you don't get a diagnosis properly before 26th May you'll miss out on any marks and probably end up having to do the resit anyway. So you may as well give the exam a go?
definately gonna try get emergency appntment, got a feeling they going to say it's not an emergency.It is kinda due to excessive stress i'm not usually like this with exams but i just got soo depressed with uni this year that i lost contact with the few people i kind of knew at uni and now feel even more worse and just have all this pressure on me.
Original post by infairverona
The only problem I think you may face is also that being diagnosed for depression takes time. The GP won't diagnose you, they will refer you to the mental health department for your area and you will need a meeting with them before you receive a full diagnosis/treatment. Simply due to the amount of time it takes you are probably better off sitting the exam because if you don't get a diagnosis properly before 26th May you'll miss out on any marks and probably end up having to do the resit anyway. So you may as well give the exam a go?
Not always. GPs can diagnose depression and some will give medication for it at the firat appointment. Mental health issues should be handled by specialists but the reality is the waiting lists are so long all the GPs I've met have been willing to start treatment since waiting without any treatment isn't always safe for the person involved. I was diagnosed with depression in november during a 5 minute appointment and im not waiting for/ receiving any specialist care.
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i was referred to therapy by my doctor who i told few weeks ago that i had anxiety about going uni but didt tell he about depression( don't know why) but i dont think she wrote it in my record.however i missed the call of the therapist and have to book again with them for intial telephone assesment probably tommorow.aah studying for exams in this condition is truly crazy but in the past i have atleast the tiny bit of drive in me to keep me going but it has totally dissapeard
Original post by ns92
the exam is at 10 in the morning tommorow and literally all day i have done nothing, because i cant concentrate. I don't have a diagnosis, i have until 26h may to apply for mitigating circumstance, do you think if i get a diagnosis by then along with the doctor's note that my uni will accept it?my uni also has a fit to sit policy so if i sit the exam i can't apply for mc afterwards.
Does your university have a counselling service that you could use? It probably varies from place to place but if you have been to see them about issues such as depression (whether you have been diagnosed by a doctor or not) then they are usually able to confirm to the university that you have valid mitigating circumstances.
If you aren't going to sit the exam in the morning then you should definitely apply for mitigating circumstances before the exam starts (you could tell them that you will submit any supporting evidence that they require as soon your GP/therapist is able to provide you with it)
