College Is famous for it's workload, but it's also the perfect way to meet new people and become independent while working on your career path. Having a mental illness should not hinder your college experience. Here are some simple ways to survive.
Surround yourself with good people. It's so simple and yet it can be difficult. I understand how hard it can be to put yourself out there and to make friends. However, friends will come eventually though they may not be all that good for you. For instance, if you hang around people that make you feel bad about yourself or people that make you want to be different just to please them, then chances are that you are better off without them. The more you surround yourself with people who love you for who you are and that influence you to love yourself and who love you all the same, the easier you will find waking up in the morning to start another day. You will slowly begin to accept yourself, illness and all, and will look forward to making memories and having fun with your friends. Yes, there will be days when you don't feel like doing anything and you just need time alone. Everyone gets this way, illness or not. However, in the long run, you will find that your college days were spent laughing and relaxed with people who you can trust and people that you love.
P.S. (These people are not at all hard to find. It may seem hard to believe, but there are just as many good people as there are bad in this world. All you have to do is open your eyes. Most are right in front of you. You just have to pay attention).
Stay busy. Okay, well maybe not busy, busy but one of the keys to surviving a mental illness is keeping yourself active. It sounds strange since some mental illnesses cause you to have great fatigue and emotional distress. You would think that these symptoms alone are enough to make you never want to do anything busy or time-consuming again. However, college requires extensive brain-work. Here's the key: Doing your work will generally give you some time to focus on other things instead of the obsessive, intrusive, self-deprecating thoughts that circulate in your brain. The good part is, "staying busy" doesn't always mean doing work. You could be busy hanging out with your friends or exercising at the gym. These things are distractions and they work, even if only for a little while. At least you have some time where your mind can be at ease.
Take breaks. Now, I understand that this may be contradictory to the last bit of advice I gave, but it's not. Though it helps to keep the nasty thoughts of illness at bay by doing things to distract you, there will also come a time when the workload may be way too much for you to handle, which only adds to the misery you may already be feeling. Thoughts such as "I can't do this, how am I ever supposed to make anything of myself if I can't even get through this one class in college" will surface. Fear not. There is a great solution: take breaks. If you ever feel overwhelmed by your homework and other activities you have set up for yourself in college and you begin to question whether you can truly continue your studies because of the mental distress it causes, just throw your stuff down and take a break. It doesn't matter whether it's late and you have to get it done. It doesn't matter whether it is due soon or you have to get that assignment out of the way to begin another from a different class. None of that matters. Your health does. My philosophy in college is do your best, but when it begins to effect your health: let it go. When I begin to get extremely distressed and I start crying and freaking out over an assignment, I close my laptop, put away my papers, and do things that will clear my mind. I'll go on a walk around campus, and get some fresh air. Sometimes I'll even text my friends and ask if they want to hang out and grab something to eat or watch a movie. And, sometimes, I'll just take a nap. It works every time. Afterwards, I feel refreshed and have a renewed sense of purpose and motivation, and I can come back to my assignment and finish it without any more upsets. However, sometimes, if it's stressful enough, you'll need to take several breaks before actually finishing. This is completely fine and necessary. If you waited to long to begin the assignment and decided you couldn't finish it in the time period without completely losing your mind, that's okay. You will have plenty opportunities to get As in other assignments and some professors even give out extra credit towards the end of the semester. Also, if you really feel the need, you can talk to your professor and explain to them what's going on and see if they will give you any extra work to help with your grade for that missing assignment. Most are actually really reasonable and understanding. Try your luck. If not, no worries. Like I said, you will have other opportunities. Plus, the world doesn't end with a bad grade.
Do more than just schoolwork. Colleges are really good about having fun activities outside of the classroom. Whether it be with a sports game, a school-hosted dance, or a concert, college has you covered for extra-curricular activities. In order to keep your sanity, you need to do more than just schoolwork. Get out there, have fun! College is so much more than books and papers. It's about being independent, living life, meeting new people and just letting loose. After all, these are your last years until you truly become an adult with a career. Embrace it. You will never get a chance like this again. My college has comedy shows where they invite famous comedians to come and do stand up for us and I always try to go to these with my friends. Laughing is the best medicine for a mental illness in my opinion and I don't mean chuckling. I'm talking grabbing-your-sides-because-they-hurt-from-laughing-so-much laughing. My friends and I have the best times at these comedy shows and we always get a good laugh. This not only cheers me up, but it makes me genuinely happy to be alive. If you do things like this, even if you go by yourself, it will be a great experience and a great asset to your mental health.
Plan your schedule accordingly. One of the greatest things about college is you can plan your own schedule. I am extremely grateful for this because I am not a morning person whatsoever. On top of that, my illness gives me extreme fatigue which makes it all the more harder to get out of bed in the morning. Therefore, when I plan out my schedule, I try to get as many afternoon classes as I can that way I can ensure that I'll be at least half alive in my classes. Plus, the extra sleep will help me compromise between my needs and my illness. I get a little extra sleep for the fatigue, but I still get to attend my classes without being penalized for too many absences.
Don't be afraid to get help. This is probably the most important key to surviving college with a mental illness. Actually, it's probably the most important key to surviving a mental illness period. Do not be afraid to get help. It's almost ridiculous the measures some people take to avoid professional help. This goes for anyone with a medical issue in general. I, for one, do not think that there is anything wrong with needing help. Nobody, and I mean nobody, on this Earth can say that they have everything all figured out and that they went through life without needing assistance from at least someone. Plus, the doctors and therapists that are at your service are trained to deal with the problems that we face. Why be afraid or ashamed of what you have when your doctor/therapist has seen hundreds of others just like you? They are well versed in illness and understand these things that you have no control over. It's not like we asked for our illness, and they understand that. They have problems as well. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Most colleges offer counseling at their health center. If ever you feel that you are in danger of harming yourself or just giving up and you feel you have no one else to turn to, take a trip to the health center. They will talk to you and help you figure out ways to fix some of your problems. Now, not all colleges are as equipped as others. For instance, my college gives free counseling but that doesn't include therapy. Some illnesses require extensive therapy. Mine does. In that case, see a counselor regularly to talk your frustrations and worries out to since it is free, and as you do that, take the time to find a place near your campus that will get you into the therapy you need. It may be hard to do at first and it might even be intimidating if, like me, you have a problem with talking to strangers about things that are personal to you. However, you will get used to it and they understand that it's normal to feel anxious about talking to them about certain things. Over time, you will find that you feel increasingly better. If not and if you just feel that the particular therapist you are seeing isn't the right one for you, that is completely normal. Do not give up hope. Just simply try again to find one that suits you better.
So, go out, have fun, and live life. We all have our problems and we all have things that keep us from living our life to the fullest. You cannot let this stop you from being happy and living a full life. Everybody deserves their happiness. Everybody deserves to lie on their death bed feeling satisfied about the way they lived their lives. College is a wonderful experience. You just have to believe that you can survive.
