Nasty Professor Causing Me To Spiral.... I Need Advice, Please.

[jewel]

I need advice, please.

I have a very nasty professor who seems to be putting me on the defensive almost daily. Aside from my PTSD I have a physical disability from my trauma. Unfortunately, I look like nothing is wrong with me. She questions my disability daily causing my symptoms to be aggravated. When I am angrynmy physical pain is worse. She is harassing me and affecting me in such a negative way. I don't know how to not let her get to me. I stayed home from class Tuesday just to de stress. Only four more weeks to go and then I may be able to smile again. So much negativity from one person.

I hate to admit it here but I know it is a step in the right direction, I think, I know, karma bit me in the butt! Before my trauma I too was like her. She is affecting me in such a negative way because she reminds me of my pre trauma self. I wasn't mean and nasty but I did have to have the last word and did feel like I always had to prove a point. I had a very strong personality and you either loved me or you didn't. If you didn't, I didn't care. Today I am very different. Today, I do care how I am perceived. Today, things do affect me. Today, she affects me and I also wonder who I affected this way as well.

I could really use some advice on how to make it through four more weeks without spiraling down.

Thank you-
Jewel

 

[mysihba]

I don't know where you go to school, but can't believe the admin. would allow this to go on. I think you have the right to peace and to not be harrased no matter where you are. ADA goes even further.

I think I would tell the Amin. that you want it stopped now, will suit if there is retribution of any kind including dropping your grade/not passing etc. Hope you have it ALL documented.

Have you tried talking to her openly and honestly and telling her that her words/actions are not acceptable?

If so, I would talk to the admin. seek legal council, tell them to fix it or they can talk to your legal council....

Call it karma if you like but that is not excuse or reason for her behaviour. She should not be allowed to get away with it. There is an old saying or two that cops use. A bit contrary but 1. Be nice until it's time to not be nice. 2. be polite to everybody and nice to nobody. That may be stretching it a bit, but maybe it helps. We just can't be and play nice all the time.

Sorry, I'm probably no help at all at the moment

 

[jewel]

Yes, everything is documented meticulously. Charges within the school were filed with office of equal opportunity. This is a state university in the south (USA). My grading is no longer being done by her. I am waiting on a full written report thru the OEO and I have told them I am considering police charges of harassment.

 

[Reclusive]

Wow, good for you! What a horrible teacher - wonder what her defect is. I'm SO glad you documented everything. Getting the administration to step in is a very good idea. Maybe you can tell the administration that you would like for her not to address you personally unless addressed by you first?

 

[jewel]

I was offered independent study for the last four weeks and initially I thought of it as her winning and after re thinking it, I told them I would like to revisit that idea. I am too stressed to even sit in her class.

 

[Reclusive]

I would definitely reconsider it. It sounds more like you winning than her winning. And if she feels she won, who cares, this is about YOUR needs. It's YOUR life that being effected. It's just not worth it to spite someone else.

 

[jewel]

I accepted the independent study. I see what you are saying. I get it. It's just so difficult right now.

 

[Reclusive]

Good for you! I think it should take a lot of stress off of your shoulders. No one should have to deal with a professor like that.

 

[OKRADLAK]

I am so sorry you are dealing with that! I had that , too. A professor actually called me "Freakish" and another called me "Weird" .....IN CLASS!!

I write to the Dean and explained that I have an invisible disability that may make me seem weird and I am very sensitive to it. Then I explained that that kind of thing is against the Disability Act and that they were asking for a lawsuit. Further, I explained that I had very much respected these professors because I did.

I dropped the one's class because it was too painful. The other, I stuck out.

They were MORTIFIED. I know they felt bad and that is not why I did it. I did it because it hurt and made me feel like I can never come across as "normal." I tried very hard to be so at the school, so I was really sad that I had not pulled it off.

I am enrolled in another school so they did not make me not want to continue. They were good professors, but they needed to understand they cannot make fun of students.

Maybe you can do something like that? Talk to the dean? Write a letter? You should NEVER EVER have to deal with that when you are paying to be there!

I hope you can get this resolved. It is not something you need.

 

[jewel]

Wow! I am sorry that happened to you but thanks for sharing because I don't feel so alone now. I am considering legal action against her as the day she trapped me in her classroom and blocked me from leaving, exasterbating my claustrophobia from my trauma and causing me to break down in front of her crying and shaking, that night I ended up in the ER because of SI issues.

I keep saying I want to feel normal again too. I want to be like everyone else but so many issues come into play for me. I can't. I hate it. Daily I am trying to accept the challenges that I face and recognize them as such and not give in to them but overcome them.

 

[ktmarie71]

I think you did the right thing. Do you get assistance through your school's disability office? I found them really helpful at the college I went to..infact I use to take my schedule to them before classes started and ask about the teachers I was not familiar with because often they would know who was good to work with and who was not and it was really helpful. All I did was take my schedule in and say "what do you think?" and they would say "well you might find this instructor a little more "challenging" (meaning they were not going to be helpful to my situation) or this instructor is really cooperative and lots of our students have enjoyed his class (meaning he does his best to work with you) Hope you find this useful...really glad you stood up to that nonsense.

 

[jewel]

I do work with the disability office. They help tremendously. I don't know where I would be without them.