Having To Make School Aware Of My Ptsd

[FindingMyself88]

I did decide to go through DSS, and met with my intake counselor today. We discussed how my PTSD anxiety affects me and also my medications. I also told her that I have applied for a Psychiatric service dog and am hoping to know the time frame soon. After talking, we came up with the following things to help with my anxiety:

-Approved absences through DSS. Meaning if I am having a really bad day and cannot come to class, it will be excused.

-Extended time on tests and in class assignments.

-Allowance for a recorder and also a note taker. This way if I dissociate in class or am overwhelmed,

-Preferred seating so that I can sit up front and by the door.

-Allowance for short breaks in case my anxiety gets bad.

-Alternative project for oral presentations. Such as only presenting in front of professor, or doing research instead.

My intake counsellor will meet with her boss on Wednesday and will find out which ones can be approved. Then we will meet afterwards to discuss them and how to notify my professors. It was very nerve-wracking talking to someone I didn't know about my anxiety and issues. But I am hoping this will help.

 

[Dee Morris]

@FindingMyself88 Right now I'm at a small community college and I've been able to work individually with my professors. They have all been great. I graduate with my AA in Criminal Justice in May and will go to a larger university in the fall. After reading your list, I am thinking I should try to meet with DSS. Part of the difficulty I found in achieving success when I was at a large university the first time was from the dissociation during class, feeling overwhelmed over course deadlines etc. Failure is not an option so I'm going to have to find a way to build up the strength to reach out. I just don't know how I'm going to do that yet.

 

[BLHutch]

Some professors are asshats. I know. I am one. I also suffer from PTSD from my previous career as a firefighter and then a police officer. I did not leave that line of work voluntarily. A back injury caused me to have to leave. Since I picked up a Masters in History while working as a cop, it has allowed me to move over into teaching history at a Community College. I am very open about my PTSD with my students. I have no problem telling them about it since teaching a class is pretty freaking hard if you've just had a flashback. So I have to start out every semester talking about it briefly. That is kind of tough on me.

Getting help from the school is your right. Don't feel bad about it. As far as talking to your professors is concerned, I think that should be on an individual basis. Some professors make you feel very comfortable and you might be willing to explain everything to them. Others are standoffish and in those cases, just give them the paperwork and don't go into details. After a week or so in class, you can probably figure out which are which.

Maybe you'll get "lucky" and have a professor that also lives with PTSD! There are some of us out there. But NEVER let your PTSD make you feel like you can't accomplish your educational goals. I promise you that you can. You ARE strong enough to do it.