It's a month now until I return to university for my third year, and I'm dreading it. My first two years have been overwhelmingly miserable on the balance of things, and I have little reason I believe third year will be any better.
On the surface of things, I seem to be doing alright. I've gotten very good marks academically, have joined plenty of societies (some would say too many!) and have positions of responsibility in a few, and am actively involved in life at my college.
However, I spent most of my first year feeling isolated and lonely. I struggled to make friends within the university (though did find a group outside that I did get on well with), and this was coupled with me being seriously assaulted during my first few weeks, my partner being diagnosed with a serious illness and my developing anorexia. I held out hope that second year would be different, but my living situation served to just exacerbate many of the problems I had to deal with. My levels of depression and anxiety rose further, I became dangerously underweight and I'm still not sure, looking back on things, quite how I managed to go about my daily life at times. I had counselling during the second half of my second year, but never got round to actually resolving any of the issues in the number of sessions I had.
I've tried reading some articles about how to deal with it, but most seem aimed at Freshers and I've long since done all the advice they suggest to no avail. Even the very thought of going back is causing my mental health to suffer; I have no appetite, I cry frequently and I feel on the verge of panic. Everything in my head is screaming at me to not go back, but I know it's my final year, and I'm sure that I'm going to complete it unless things get so bad that I just fail to function. I've wanted to drop out so many times but lacked any better options, hence why I've stuck at it so far, and I'd be in a worse position were I to drop out now. I just need some advice as to how I can make it through.
Has anyone else been in a similar situation before? Or else, any advice as to what I can do to alleviate the worrying?