Sinking

[marc and honey]

I have been out of the US Army now for almost one year and felt I needed to start working on college. I am using the VA's VOC rehab program and they have been great so far. However I am closing out my first week of school and am realizing I am over my head. The classes expectations seem reasonable but I cannot focus to save my life. Every time I sit down to read the text turns to mush. I am not learning at all! I do not expect any magical answer to come from the forum. But if anyone can relate and/or provide tips or tricks to focus "I am all ears" so to speak.

 

[Ned]

When I got out I was in the very lucky position of being able to potter around on a farm for a year. No pressure. Which was just as well. My job had been fairly technical, involving generating quite a lot of documentation.
And it was getting impossible. I could not focus, couldn't get motivated, found it all getting way too complicated.
Towards the end of a year of living cave-man, I started dipping my toe in the water again. Simple little things like keeping reloading data, writing, giving myself a routine.
Two tears after that I was tech authoring!
Baby steps, like everything bloody else with this monster.

 

[Chin Strapped]

Hi Marc,

I've been out 2 years and have just finished the 2nd year of Uni, it has been really difficult in 2013, mainly through depression and the poor concentration/motivation that can come with it. I had to change my life a bit, you have to try find a way to relax and tackle studying/assignments in small but frequent doses, don't do more than 1.5 hours in a go. Well, it helped for me. CV exercise always helps. It will take a little to get into the swing of it, it took me a year and of course I still get stressed now. Students get stressed, just keep an eye on yours.

Good luck mate.

 

[Anglesachse]

Most of us will go through it at some point Marc brother.

I left in 95 and stumbled on with civvie life blind. in 2005 I started my Master Mechanic courses.

Thats when life started to catch up with me. ended up with me resitting one part of the qualification 3 times. On the third I sailed through but the two before that I was all over the shop.

But I was only able to pass the exam on pure tenacity of doing the course 3 times, I couldn`t revise for shit. I just made it military in such that it became second nature.

I couldnt explain what or why, but black on white questions got a reaction that was right.

I passed that part on an Average or a 4 how ever you look at it. which pulled my whole Master down a note, but pass I did.

Not sure if it will help, but I know we are all routing for you. Except Jimmy that is, His rootin` is done in the back of the Ute so he will be chearing you on instead no less.

 

[marc and honey]

Thank you for the responses, keep them coming. I am going to try exercise before hitting books again today, maybe that will help some. this whole thing has me so worked up.

 

[Chin Strapped]

Stick a bit of music on after PT, chill then read. Small doses my friend. My new strategy is to take about 3-4 weeks to write an essay, not 5 days; hypervigilence had its perks before I crashed.

 

[Sarg]

Check your class schedule. Look for a remedial college prep class. It might be called something different at your college. Helped me immensely. They teach you the best times and environment in which to study. Plain old how to study and much more.

Don't be afraid to discuss this with your instructor. Their job is to teach and often they can give suggestions. Seek out study groups, especially if there are Veterans in it. Treat your study as a job. Instead of working for a paycheck, you're working for a passing grade.

All I can think of right now.

Sarg

 

[JarHed]

Hey Marc

Seems pretty normal what you're experiencing right now. You're still adjusting back to being out of the service. All the input above is great and spot on. Also look at the amount of credits you're carrying as you may have to cut back a bit to make it more manageable. See if there's a counselor there that you can talk to. Some schools even have a veteran counselor.

I'm sure you're motivated to complete school and get on to a career. Don't try to play catch up, if you know what I mean, you never will. Just evaluate and reevaluate your goals as needed. Like everything, stay the course and you'll get there. Learning how to study is a skill that can be learned. Surf the net to find that info and best of luck Mate.

 

[marc and honey]

Thank you, I guess my anxiety is not as under control as I thought I need to break out some of the old coping skill, dust them off and put them to work. Right now I am 2 eight week courses and business law is not a class I should be taking right now. I will fight it out but damn... analizing us court cases is like reading air force manuals while in the army. i hope I can find a way to relate some of this class to information technology and telecommunications.

 

[Spock]

Don't be afraid to discuss this with your instructor. Their job is to teach and often they can give suggestions. Seek out study groups, especially if there are Veterans in it. Treat your study as a job. Instead of working for a paycheck, you're working for a passing grade.

Marc,
Thanks for the thread, I'm starting back myself and expect things to be different now that I'm touched by the Beast. Your insight is helpful so let me know how your exercise and other efforts work out. I was going to simply suggest what Sarg did, maybe have a chat with the instructor about your difficulties, just like any other student would. I just don't know if you should share too much about your private medical issue. It would be good to hear from the others on that. Maybe just simply leave it at being a wounded warrior that just left the military and struggling getting back into the swing of things? The real gist of the convo should be the specifics you mentioned, that is what the instructor might have some good feedback on. Anyway, keep us updated.

 

[marc and honey]

This update kinda sucks, the reading seems to be my hardest point. I have to read a small section at a time, walk away and think about it then come back. Exercise seems to help with motivation but not concentration. Also I am nervous about telling my proffesor anything that may effect my grade. I don't want sympathy and that's what people are more likely to think. What I need is to find better ways to learn. I am hoping that if I can relate to the topic a peak of interest will keep me focused. So far I have had very little success.

 

[Chin Strapped]

It took me nearly 2 years to say "I'm a vet with ptsd", the Uni obviously completely understood; it was a very difficult thing to do. As a result I can get assignment extensions more easily, mitigating circumstance (I can re-take if I am not happy with result!), smaller less people room for exams and my lecturers are aware I may walk out lectures randomly.

The anxiety etc will never go, but it can be managed. As for the reading thing, its shit! You'll get into it, just stick with it. You sound like me a year ago Marc.