Psych Major With Ptsd

[butterflyaway]

I'm a psych major at a community college and I'm really struggling right now and experiencing increasingly debilitating dissociation, anxiety, nightmares, and flashbacks. I have a full workload and school load and I have a lot of responsibilities at home. Additionally, no one in my household believes in mental disorders and I'm afraid that if I seek additional help (I'm in a treatment program now, but my mind is beginning to scare me and they're thinking about hospitalization) for what I'm going through I won't have anywhere to live, and there's just no way to relieve any stresses when it comes to responsibilities. I haven't slept in a couple days now (and recently when I do sleep I have constant nightmares and wake up in a panic) and I'm feeling pretty hopeless. I'm thinking about going into the disabilities center at the school to discuss possible accommodations, but I don't know what would help me. Any ideas? Also, my treatment team is trying to get me on disability and that could possibly relieve some financial stress.

 

[desiderata310]

You said you're in a treatment program. Talk to that person about what you could experience and what could possibly help. That could include extra time to complete your work to being able to take tests in a separate room.

I am NOT a big believer in medication but prazosin has given me some measure of relief with nightmares. I still have them but they are easier to recover from.

Throwing things out there because there are SOO very many different ways of skinning this cat (DBT/ACT etc) has anyone suggested EMDR?

It sounds like your PTSD cup is pretty full.

 

[Muted]

it's possible that if your taking psych classes that it is stirring up issues that you may not have worked through yet. I'm sorry you're going through such a hard time. I think you're on the right track with a support team and going to the college. Do you think extra time would help? Are you in therapy regularly and as frequently as you need? I think first getting help to get your sleep under control would help a lot. I'm not sure if mess could help with the nightmares or not?

 

[KwanYingirl]

I juggled school and work and motherhood. Getting help from your school will make it less overwhelming, which it sounds like you're headed there as it is. It's mind numbing to go to school and that helped me not feel so stressed. I also only took two classes a semester. I used medication to help me focus and to reduce my anxiety. It's not that I had a choice to reduce the demands I was under, full time school was out of the question for me. It really helped to cut back on the classes I was taking. Good luck.

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

Your campus DSPS office can help you if you have already been deemed legally disabled. They can provide extra time for exams and a private testing room.

It's quite possible your psych classes are stirring you up. I have a BA in psychology. After I became disabled (PTSD and DID), I started taking more psych classes in preparation for an MA in psych. The classes did get me more worked up. After one semester of psych, I abandoned the MA in psych for an MA in math. Why? Because doing math takes me to a different 'place' in my brain, a place where the psych issues don't trouble me. Just food for thought.

Can you switch your focus to only general education courses while you work on stabilization? After you are stabilized, you will be in a better position to make important decisions about your major.

 

[Eagle3]

It took me 8 years to get my 4-year degree, and I was taking 4 classes per semester. My degree is in Psychology as well, and yes, it triggered me badly. At the time I didn't have therapy or a support structure, and my social encounters just made me feel even worse. I ended up totally breaking down my last semester, had to go to the campus Disability office as well as the Campus mental health clinic for my last 3 semesters. That helped, at least I was able to graduate, but I was a royal mess when I got out. Still recovering...

I agree, take as many non-psych classes as possible while you balance out, and work with the services at your school. They do help, although community colleges generally aren't as capable as some larger schools (had one counselor at a CC tell me I didn't have PTSD, when its fairly obvious to EVERYONE I've seen that I do...). Take care of yourself first. Good luck!

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

had one counselor at a CC tell me I didn't have PTSD,

Ouch. Not in her job description. They aren't supposed to question a student's disability documentation.

 

[Eagle3]

Ouch. Not in her job description. They aren't supposed to question a student's disability docume...

I didn't have documentation at the time, but I'd done enough research to know what was going on. That was when the worst of the trauma was pretty fresh. But yeah, she was a clueless hack...I didn't see her long. Thankfully I was vindicated, although it took years to get official documentation.

 

[BuckarooBanzai]

I didn't have documentation at the time,

Ah, I see.

The college DSPS center counselors cannot help anyone who doesn't have disability documentation. They cannot diagnose (they aren't licensed to do so) but can only implement accommodations based upon the provided documentation.

Glad it worked out for you eventually.