It sucks, doesn't it? Just when you start to climb back out of the hole, the whole world comes rushing back at you demanding that you fix everything all at once. You've just got to take one thing at a time.

Have you been seeing a counselor or psychiatrist? Being in a situation like yours, it would be a very good idea for two reasons. The first, obviously, is the benefit of therapy. The second is the support in re-entering your world. If you can get a doctor's note saying that you have been unable to attend school/work for the last little while due to illness, and that you need to be given a reasonable amount of time in which to catch up, that will help loads. It takes a lot of the pressure off, and you can focus on just readjusting to getting out of the house again.

I've been in your situation. I hit a really bad depressive cycle a few years ago when I first started dating my boyfriend, and all of our friends started telling him to dump me because I'd never get any better. Lovely, right? Well, he did ignore them and we're married now, so there's always hope. Make sure that he knows you're taking steps to get better, and that should be enough for him. It's probably best if you both sever ties with these faux friends. There are lots of places to make new friends, and these people are just toxic.

You may want to see if there's a disability services department at your school. If there is, they can help you with your return as well. When I'm in school I work with them, and they're able to get me all sorts of leeway where I need it: like taking tests in a separate room, because hearing people panicking beforehand makes me anxious, or having extensions on assignments if I'm experiencing a depressive cycle.

thank you your advice. i am very grateful. i see a councilor twice a week and i feel no difference i know it takes time to see the light through this. thank you again

My Personal Forum

My name is Amanda and I'm 26 years old. I'm currently studying electrical engineering. Armed with a fairly odd sense of humour and a sunny outlook on life, I'll take on just about anything. I'm also cussedly stubborn, which has its ups and downs. Things get tough sometimes, and I've never been one to run from it.

In my last 8 years with Advicenators, I've gone from honours student to failing out of university (and getting back on top again!), from single to married, from tenant to homeowner.

Until lately, I have been struggling with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and OCD, which had basically ruined my life and taken just about everything from me. I'm thankful every day for every experience I've had because of this ordeal, because it's helped to make me who I am today. Things like that really make you appreciate what you do have. Now that I'm back in work and school and starting to become myself again, I couldn't be happier. I credit Advicenators with saving my life back when I was a teenager, which is a big part of why I'm still here.

I won't necessarily give you the answers you want to hear, but I'll always be honest and do my best to help.

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