Alerting Uni To The Fact I Have Ptsd

[Ice_Fire]

As some of you may be aware, I've recently started university and am a month into my first year. I've also just started therapy (again) and the plan is to do EMDR and Brainspotting.

My university so far are not aware that I suffer from PTSD, but given the work I am going to be doing in therapy and my general mental state, I think they should probably know.

The trouble is, I don't know how to go about this, how much to say, who to tell, who to refer to if they need any more information. My new GP doesn't know yet either (I don't think; my last doctor alluded to PTSD in my notes but never actually said 'has been diagnosed with PTSD' in as many words). So, basically, I don't know what to do.

Options are: Email my personal tutor and tell him I'm in therapy for PTSD
Email my personal tutor to say that I'm currently attending therapy but not say why
Make a GP appointment and tell them that I'm in therapy for PTSD (and ask them to alert the uni for me)
Do nothing.

So...help me out here guys? Thanks

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I take it you're not in the USA ?

 

[Ice_Fire]

No, I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland

 

[CrazyHorse]

As some of you may be aware, I've recently started university and am a month into my first year

Hi Ice_Fire, Good for you :-)

I have let my professors know about my PTSD when necessary. For example, if I was not well enough to go on a seminar etc. (My courses envolved a lot of traveling).

At the moment, I am writing my final thesis, and my personal tutor is well aware of my PTSD and how the symptoms affect my work ability from time to time. I have never shown them any statements from doctors etc., as I find that way too personal, and I have only told them about PTSD on a 'need to know' basis. I have never talked about, or been questioned about, the cause of my PTSD, nor have I ever experienced anything other than understanding and support on their part.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Ice_Fire]

Hi Crazyhorse,

Thank you for your reply.

I don't really want to spring it on my professors when I'm having trouble with my work; I don't want it to seem like an excuse for struggling with work. Rather they knew prior and would be aware that if I did later have any difficulties, that I'm not simply lacking effort. I'm sure your professors don't think that and I'm glad they are supporting you well, I just don't want mine to think I'm using it.

It's reassuring to hear that you've never been questioned on the details, as that is my biggest fear.

 

[CrazyHorse]

I understand that! I was nervous if they would take it as an excuse, but they never did. It was just reality. Sometimes I could not handle the stress or the traveling.

 

[WillyKat]

I guess that I would lean toward saying nothing or as little as possible. Are you in therapy? If so, is that through the school counseling center?

One option is to only tell those you feel you must tell and then only tell them what they absolutely need to know. If however you sense that someone might be understanding and supportive, then it may be ok to let them know.

 

[Flyaway]

Hi Fire and Ice,

The uni should have a disability services/counselling centre. Either one of these can help you with this. They will know the best way to approach this! They get paid to help people like us with these issues :happy: and they're generally good at it!

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I don't know what resources your school has... Here in the states, every school is mandated to accommodate for disabilities. Do you have a disabilities office?

I don't tell my instructors about my diagnosis unless necessary. They all know I have a disability though. Yesterday I told one instructor that I have PTSD and am in the middle of a bad episode. He was understanding and granted me an extension on a test (I take all my exams in the testing center so it was little inconvenience to him.)

 

[radicalgratitude]

When I was at university, I let my professors know of my PTSD and never regretted it. I am a hard worker and they knew that I wasn't taking advantage of them. When I was very symptomatic, even the toughest professors gave me extensions on my work or let me miss class (we had a strict attendance policy) for emergency therapy sessions.

 

[Kas_Can_Fly]

I went to uni in the UK, I did drop out but that's a story for another time. All I wanted to say was your decision to share with an individual or all of the staff will be respected and may be helpful for you but that they can't help you if they don't know you have a problem. Good luck

 

[rightkindofme]

I told professors at the start of every term. "I have PTSD due to an unfortunate series of events I won't be discussing. Sometimes I may want to be mentally present more than anything in the world but I won't be. I am in active therapy. I am appropriately medicated. I still struggle." I was given a lot of slack.