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Anxiety/panic attacks

I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks I am really worried about not being able to do my assignments at Uni if they're going to involve presentations. Luckily up until now I have never had to do one on a large scale, actually I've only ever done one, and that was in front of 4 people and I completely freaked out at that!
I have been diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression disorder...will this enable me to get special consideration when it comes to coursework? Or will I just be told I have to do it anyway...because I really don't think I'll be able to!
A friend of mine got money back for her accommodation, as her anxiety means she couldn't cope with sharing bathroom facilities and got the difference between standard and ensuite accommodation back! Surely if they can provide help with accommodation they'll be able to do something to help me with my work??
:frown:

Reply 1

Historiana

I made sound totally inconsiderate here, but maybe you could work on your confidence, if that's your problem?

I worry insanely about eeverything and have stage fright that makes me ill with panic attacks.

It's best if you try to overcome them problem instaed of delaying it or using it as an excuse. Everyone is scared of presentations at some point. You should try to get some therapy to help if it is really severe otherwise set a personal goal for yourself to help overcome it. I mean you could take part in a small karoake concert or something for friends to gain self confidence. During presentations, you will not be judged at all. it may sound weird but people admire you for doing so especially if you are like me and forced to do one solo in front of 300 people :O

You could try to boost your self esteem and such by spending some time at a Drama club or something. If you do any of these things it means you won't need to be treated differently at Uni. I really dislike being treated differently as it singles you out. Everyone is equal and no one should use any excuses to get out of something they dislike. it is likely the Uni will think this too and maybe its best if you do the coursework at the same time as everyone else because otherwise you could get singled out and people may resent you for it .

Anxiety shouldn't be used as an excuse to get extended deadlines or an en suite. That is just an excuse and makes you sound like you are using it to get priveledges. Work on combatting the anxiety, not hoping you will be considered special at Uni because of it.

You can't go through life blaming your lateness or half complete work on your anxiety -its a pretty poor excuse. If you get helpm with the anxiety you won't ever have to worry about being treated differently - unless you want to be which is pretty inconsiderate to people with more serious problems liek Bereavance.

You need to get over the anxiety to further yourself in life otherwse it could casue you big problems with future employers.

Reply 2

Montrose

I do sympathise. As the above poster said though, working to overcome it would be the best option. Sure, you might be able to get special consideration at Uni, but what about after that? A business doesn't get extra profit added to it's margins because it's employees have panic attacks. :smile:

I had a friend who used to get panic attacks all the time, like, every week, and about the silliest things. When we went to Gran Canaria for a holiday she had a massive panic attack because she failed her Grade 8 clarinet exam. She couldn't breathe for a couple of hours, had to go to hospital, and she wasn't well at all for a couple of weeks. But since then, she has managed to relax (not saying you're not relaxed, but subconsciously speaking), and not let things get to her as much. There are steps you can take to overcome this.

I think your post shows your status. You're worrying about worrying. :smile:

Be positive, take strength from those around you, and tackle it head on! Good luck. :smile:

Reply 3

mipmapped

Spooky.

Handle of first poster + avatar of second...

Reply 4

pixiepeep

I used to suffer terribly from panic attacks. Strange as it sounds, I took drama at college and it really helped!

If you're really concerned about your ability to do the presentation then let your tutors know, and they'll understand. If you're just nervous about doing it, then, well, join the club! I hate doing them, but I have to, so I just try and get on with it.

You'll usually be doing them in front of people you know anyway, so have no fear.

Like Alex Mann said, you need to relax. I've gone from never putting my hand up in class all the way through school to offering to do run a talk next weekend at an Open Day at my uni. It really is just a case of not over thinking it!

I hope things get better for you!

Reply 5

jointhedots

*starbuck*

I have been diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depression disorder...will this enable me to get special consideration when it comes to coursework? Or will I just be told I have to do it anyway...because I really don't think I'll be able to!

Do talk to your tutor about it, or your personal tutor if you don't feel like you can talk to your seminar tutor...I had the same problem and they are really understanding and helpful, even if you do end up having to do it some way anyway.

I don't get panic attacks all that much but I do get really noticably nervous about things like this, some useful things I've found about dealing with it...

If there's more than one presentation being given, sometimes it's easier to request to go first...You get it out of the way quicker (less time to be nervous), and you don't have the pressure of going after someone who you'll invariably think sounded a lot more confident and calm.

I dunno if you get the whole hand shaking thing but I do and it would be worse when I was concious of it, it never actually occured to me until someone suggested it :redface:

that if I put them on the table no one would know at all...

Read through your notes say the morning before and have a run through, and then leave it alone for at least an hour or so before you have to give the presentation...Do nice, totally unrelated things pretty much up until the minute you have to go into the room to keep your mind off it.

And if you do really panic...Nothing is going to happen, try to pause for a few seconds, take a deep breath and recollect yourself, and then just plow on.

Most likely people won't even notice, I know I tend to erm, drift rather a lot during my classmates presentations :wink:

cause there's few people at 18/19 who can do a really interesting, confident presentation. You might feel like you're the only person who's nervous and everyone's going to notice but they aren't. Even if they do...You're not at school, you're with people who are (hopefully) reasonably bright, they're not going to take the piss out of you or look down on you for being anxious. Think about how you'd feel towards someone else in your position.

I think that may be the longest post I ever wrote :biggrin:

Reply 6

Anonymous #1

What do you suggest for frequent panic attacks (im talking like at least 1 every couple of days) about death?

Reply 7

Shreerac1

Anonymous

What do you suggest for frequent panic attacks (im talking like at least 1 every couple of days) about death?

Accept that we all die at somepoint and you may as well live your life to the full until that happens.

Reply 8

Montrose

Well I believe that we all go on to a better place after 'death' anyway. The word death has negative connotations now, but for me death is simply another word for going to heaven and enjoying a better life than we have here.

But failing your beliving in that: you get one shot at this Earth, so don't waste it worrying about something 60 years away. :smile: