How do I know that my mental health is bad at uni?
I'm currently a first year uni student about to return for second term. My first term was awful - I made friends and established a routine but had an overarching feeling of sadness and anxiety for the entire term. It was definitely the worst time of my life and I'm not looking forward to returning. I'm basically just asking - how do I know if these issues are due to uni and are normal feelings everyone experiences or if they are more niche to me? At the moment the idea of continuing this for the next three years sounds awful but I also don't want to drop out just because I can't cope with normal uni stresses. I've spoken to counsellors and the GP while being at home so am trying all avenues people tell me to but it's not helping. I'm not really enjoying my course and don't feel inspired by it, but feel like I need to suck it up for three years so I can get a job afterwards.
Reply 1
Original post
by AnonymousI'm currently a first year uni student about to return for second term. My first term was awful - I made friends and established a routine but had an overarching feeling of sadness and anxiety for the entire term. It was definitely the worst time of my life and I'm not looking forward to returning. I'm basically just asking - how do I know if these issues are due to uni and are normal feelings everyone experiences or if they are more niche to me? At the moment the idea of continuing this for the next three years sounds awful but I also don't want to drop out just because I can't cope with normal uni stresses. I've spoken to counsellors and the GP while being at home so am trying all avenues people tell me to but it's not helping. I'm not really enjoying my course and don't feel inspired by it, but feel like I need to suck it up for three years so I can get a job afterwards.
Hi there,
I am really sorry to hear that you have been feeling this way while you have been at uni so far. University can be a strange time as it is so new and it can feel like a lot of pressure to be having a good time just because that's what you are supposed to be doing at uni.
It's good that you have been speaking to a GP at home and a counsellor, and if you do decide to go back to uni, it is definitely a good idea to keep in touch with them and see if you can get in touch with the GP in your university town or the university support team as it is good to talk to someone about how you are feeling.
However, if you are really not enjoying university then you are not a failure at all for dropping out if you think that it is the right thing for you to do. Lots of people end up dropping out of university or don't go to uni in the first place so try not to worry about this when you are making your decision. Your mental health comes first so if this is the right decision for you then it is the best thing to do. There will still be plenty of jobs you can get!
Or, you could consider the open university? This way you could live at home and just do your uni work online as this might help you a little bit? You could also always try and swap onto a different course if it is the course that you do not like as this also may help.
I hope some of this helps,
Lucy -SHU student ambassador.
Reply 2
Hi there,
It sounds like you are really struggling with the stress of returning to university and you're feeling a whole variety of emotions. These emotions can be really scary at times and feel really overwhelming, for example 1 in 5 people experience thoughts of suicide at some point in their life. If your emotions do get too much and make you believe suicide is an option you can always contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 for some advise and help on keeping yourself safe.
It sounds like you are really struggling with the stress of returning to university and you're feeling a whole variety of emotions. These emotions can be really scary at times and feel really overwhelming, for example 1 in 5 people experience thoughts of suicide at some point in their life. If your emotions do get too much and make you believe suicide is an option you can always contact HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141 for some advise and help on keeping yourself safe.
Reply 3
Original post
by AnonymousI'm currently a first year uni student about to return for second term. My first term was awful - I made friends and established a routine but had an overarching feeling of sadness and anxiety for the entire term. It was definitely the worst time of my life and I'm not looking forward to returning. I'm basically just asking - how do I know if these issues are due to uni and are normal feelings everyone experiences or if they are more niche to me? At the moment the idea of continuing this for the next three years sounds awful but I also don't want to drop out just because I can't cope with normal uni stresses. I've spoken to counsellors and the GP while being at home so am trying all avenues people tell me to but it's not helping. I'm not really enjoying my course and don't feel inspired by it, but feel like I need to suck it up for three years so I can get a job afterwards.
You don't need to suck it up for 3 years, you do need the pinpoint the source of these feelings just so you can seek help for them and make the best decisions for yourself going forward. But if when the time comes that decision is leaving uni that makes you a success at surviving and self care not a failure at uni
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