Sick Of My Brain!

[Samantha_38]

So I'm a full-time college student, taking 19 credits. This typically would have been busy because I also have 2 kids, drive 70 miles to school each day, 2 jobs, and 20-30 hours of clinical a week. I sustained a concussion over break though, and now I CAN'T think. This isn't so much PTSD related, as I think its just because of the head trauma, and maybe a little because I have PTSD too, and also probably because I've had more concussions than I can remember (ha ha ha...) and each one just gets subsequently worse. Anyways I can't think at all. I have nausea and vomiting constantly, and I don't know if its the concussion or what, but its all of the time. I can't keep any food down, and can hardly keep water down. This has been going on for almost 2 months. My homework takes 9 times as long. I can't read anything without reading every paragraph 5 times because I can't concentrate. I lose my words all of the time. Its a vicious cycle due to these symptoms making my work take forever, so I have to stay up late, then I get up after only 3 hours of sleep and go back to school. My brain has no time to take a break, and I'm starting to think it will never heal if it doesn't get the break. I'm also feeling like I'm never going to be able to eat ever again. Dropping school is not an option, I have to graduate in May. I'm thinking I may need to try and get a doctors note for extra time to do homework, but I HATE being this person. I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses. How do I even bring this up to my instructors? I'm really worried they won't understand and will just thinking I'm trying to get special treatment.

End of venting session. I'm REALLY overwhelmed, semi-emotional, and currently have a throbbing headache with still MORE homework to do. Plus I have to be up for school in 5 hours and I haven't gone to bed. Any advice would be wonderful, because as I've said, I can't think right now.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

Disability services? Then you're protected by law, as opposed to simply hoping your instructors will understand.

 

[Barconian]

May is in 3 months... Hang in there Samantha, you will feel so much better if you succeed

 

[Crow88]

What you are going through sounds soooooo overwhelming just from reading your post! I would say that reaching out to doctors, lecturers, therapists, tutors... anyone who can help support you. I ditched my studies (MA degree in Classics) after becoming suicidal. I closed myself off in my room and just got worse and worse. I wish someone had been there for me and taken me to the doctor. If you have any friends who can accompany you to appointments then please take the help. Your emotional needs are just as important as getting food and water to nourish your body.
Good luck

 

[Samantha_38]

Thanks everyone! I'm counting down to May! Also April is my certification test, so that's getting overwhelming too, but I'm ready for it to be over.

I did message my doctor, and he had no problem writing a note. He said he'd mail it since I don't get a lot of time to try and get there to pick it up, so hopefully it will come soon. I still am not sure how I'm going to bring this up to my instructors without sounding like I'm trying to get out of doing things, but I'm trying to work up the courage, and to come up with what I will say.

I'm still having all of the other symptoms. It has been very overwhelming though, but I really think that if I let myself quit on graduating I will break down completely. For some reason I just HAVE to do this, no matter how tough it is on me.