Suggestions For Student With Ptsd

[HëllaBubz]

Hehehehe condescension is so much fun.

 

[Jen93]

Doesn't condescension have to do with like water and how it rises? I don't know what that has to do with PTSD.... and it's not that fun to watch the mirrors fog up when I'm in the shower.

ANYWAY: I've had like major problems in school as well- my trauma was completely school related. I've found that (a) Educating your friends on PTSD beforehand- what to look for before I flashback (head bowed, staring straight across the room and not paying attention to anything) so they can tell me everything's okay. AND (b) Flashcards help a lot. I made flashcards saying "You are having a flashback. If you feel that (flashback scene) is happening, this is what is really going on, (saw something triggering, thought of something triggering, etc. etc.) You are safe. You are this many years old. Nothing bad can happen right now. You are in (wherever location you are at.) and you are supposed to be doing this (studying) right now." I keep them with me at all times in my purse. They help when my friends can't.

I know how hard it is to deal with school, but with determination and a good support system at school in the way of friends and/or maybe even teachers who can recognize your triggers/ panic states, school can be bearable.

 

[HëllaBubz]

Hehe.....not laughing at you Jen, just what you said was cute ;) ((Jen))

Condensation is to do with water, condescension is a mannerism or attitude where it can be almost sarcastic, but usually it is when a person speaks to others in a tone which implies that they are inferior, or lesser than them.

Hence, if someone says something to the effect of; "you should see what X had to deal with in their life, and you don't see THEM going around claiming PTSD....", to which you might reply, "really? I suppose you're right, I had NO idea that MY problems were so insignificant, I'm SO sorry for burdening you with my drivel."

Mind you, in order for this to be condescending, you would need to look concerned and sincere as opposed to angry, otherwise it would come across as sarcasm.

I'm not sure if that was clear......brain a little foggy today :rolleyes:
((Jen))

 

[allisonp]

After two college degrees and medical school I think I can help a little. Do not study where you can be triggered easily: if being around people makes you nervous, or having to walk home from the library leaves you terrified - find a quietr, safer spot. Or if being alone is the problem, go where there are non-triggering people.

Dear Girl13,
I am currently in medical school, and am just realizing the effects of my trauma. I have not sought a medical diagnosis yet, but will be making an appointment soon. I am starting my second year (again) after taking a year off. The stress of my first year and a half of med school sent me into a downward spiral of depression. It was very severe and had many scary physical symptoms as well. I was also diagnosed with ADD half-way into my first year - I sought a medical evaluation (a 4 hour test that felt like pre-kindergarten screening on speed haha!) after noticing I was having so many problems focusing, including extremes of hyper-focusing.

I took a year off and although I am doing much better, I am just realizing now that my past trauma most likely plays a very big role in why the stress of medical school pushed me "over the edge" so-to-speak, and possibly plays a role in my focus/attention problems. I also have difficulty sleeping at various times, and I find that I have an overwhelming fear of not only failure but of success as well. I often put off studying because I feel overwhelmed by how much studying I need to do and what I need to get done. Instead of just doing it, I do nothing (usually numb myself with online TV), which then makes me feel even more overwhelmed and stressed later. This is something that is getting better - I unfortunately got in a bad habit/cycle my first year.

During my time off, I have been working on this. My first block back (M2) was great; however, I am in my second block right now and have had some days where I reverted to old habits. I'm just afraid - of getting overwhelmed again and not being able to continue, of being a bad doctor - much of the material I haven't "learned" well but have crammed it for exams, fear of failure but also of success, and fear of what that means that I struggle with fearing success. I don't want this to become a cycle again, and I don't want to live this way. Do you have any suggestions? I appreciate all and any insight that you can provide. And if you have any practical suggestions for studying, managing time, etc., I appreciate that as well.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for sharing your wisdom/experience with others as well.

Allison

 

[HëllaBubz]

Hi Allison,

As someone who had to leave nursing school because of PTSD, I really do empathise with you.
I highly recommend that you talk to your lecturers and lower your workload.
The more you have to stress about, the more you will feel that you are spiraling out of control, and start to fall back into old habits.

I have found that having a few large goals and very few small ones is my key to surviving, and once you have gotten 'used to' those goals, and they become something you are intimately familiar with, then you are able to reassess and think about starting your next goal.

I don't know if this helps at all.

I don't know about where you live, but here in Australia, if you make your facility and lecturers aware of your condition, and how it affects your study and grades, they are obliged to assist you as far as they can with tutoring, mentoring, grading flexibility and workload restructuring.

Remember; NO ONE should be allowed to scoff or dismiss your condition and how it affects you, stand strong, let them know that no matter how many times you fall on your face, and DESPITE unhelpful people, you are determined to succeed, no matter how long it takes.

Lots of Love and Huggles

Bubzie

 

[allisonp]

Thank you so much, Bubzie, for sharing your experience and for your words of encouragement! I really do appreciate it. I will definitely try breaking my day (and general focus) up into goals. I've found that lists and making rough schedules for my day really do help me - otherwise I get so overwhelmed that I get nothing done. I admit, I'm afraid of sharing this with my instructors - mainly because I already took time off, and I don't want them to view me as someone who keeps making excuses. However, I also know I need to fight for myself and really do want/need to do whatever it takes to be not only a good doctor, but successful as a person as well. Again, thank you so much for your words of encouragement! It means a lot. Thanks again, and God bless!

Lots of Love and Huggles Back :happy: ,
Allison

 

[Anna]

When I studied for my degree, when I was learning I would take breaks every 30 mins as I found it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time.

I would normally put on some music in the background, light some incense and sit on my bed with all my books. After 30 mins of studying or writing an essay. I would try to do something else, whether it be havign a cup of coffee or playing a computer game for a few moments. I find if I do the same thing too long, I dream off into another world (daydream) but continue reading the book I am studying. Then suddenly I go back to the book have turned the pages but have no recollection of what I was reading!!! So to counteract this I would make myself take a break every 30 mins.

For one exam, I would study the whole day!! 8-10 hours because I was taking 30 min breaks! It worked though. I made sure I absorbed all the information. Sometimes I would read sentences over and over to make sure they had been absorbed properly.

 

[HëllaBubz]

Hi Anna & Alison,

I totally get the day dreaming thing, although as I am slowly getting better, I am starting to find that it is a little less now.

I have found that it strikes with a vengeance when I am tired, so I often will go for a massage, then sleep, and then study when I wake up, no matter the time, because that is when I am the most refreshed.

You may also find that studying with a friend will help, because if you are discussing it between yourselves, and having to explain different things to each other, it will stick in your head a lot better.

Sometimes some encouraging words that are positive and give you a virtual hug and hand up are the most helpful, instead of, 'I got through it, good luck by yourself.' :mad:

Take Care

Bubzie

 

[Girl3]

Allisonp - forget worrying about being a bad doctor at this point - that is why you do medical school and then residency. It gives you years to absorb the info and then apply it usefully to patient care. Use exercise as a means to help you stay focused and learn. There are biochemical reactions that take place during and after exercise that help imprint things into your brain.

You have great stuff in you - or you wouldn't have made it into medical school. I'm rooting for you.

 

[kittiekittie]

I feel like studying psychology with a prof who specializes in PTSD has subtly helped me IMMENSELY. I know that doesn't make sense, but he wasn't speaking with me directly. There were just certain things I sort of held onto from his lectures that I figured would probably help me.

I've realized I CANNOT take online classes. I am not motivated, I need to listen, I need to write at the same time or I don't encode it. If I have to study something to the point of memorization, I have to write re-write, and use recipe cards.

I procrastinate way too much, and when I get overwhelmed it's even worse (numbing with tv and internet). Marijuana helps me focus, it calms me down enough to get me to a point where I can concentrate and focus (depending on the strain).

This is a really hit and miss solution and some people aren't comfortable with it. But I don't think it's coincidence that the highest grades I have achieved have been while I was under the influence of marijuana... and I'm talking 90's here.

When I'm not so high strung, and can actually focus, I do significantly better.

 

[Girl3]

Kittiekittie - in the 1970's when I played in rock bands and still smoked marijuana, I had a 4.0 GPA and scored high enough on the SAT's to get a scholarship to an Ivy league school. Pot doesn't make you focus or make you smart. You achieved DESPITE smoking marijuana, not because of it. It allows you to relax in spite of bad things happening and it allows you to escape mentally from bad situations going on around you. There are medications - alpha blockers for instance - that can help you supress your natural noradrenaline response which will allow you to achieve what you need to achieve.

 

[kittiekittie]

There are medications - alpha blockers for instance - that can help you supress your natural noradrenaline response which will allow you to achieve what you need to achieve.

Well I already take trazodone for sleep - but it doesn't make a difference in my focus at all.