Should I drop out?

I am a freshman in college diagnosed with OCD, anxiety and depression. I have been on medication for 2 months but I do not see any improvement yet. College has become an anxiety fuel now and I can’t study because I am too anxious and sometimes I cry when I try to. I can’t perform well in classes and the workload is stressing me out. During the first exam season I was a wreak but I wasn’t yet on meds and that’s when my depression appeared. The thing is I can’t really do the normal routine things and I don’t find happiness in the things that were my hobbies. I don’t know how I’ll be able to tell my parents if I do it because my mom is really on about the fact that I can do it cause I’m strong and now I just feel like I will disappoint her. If anyone that went or is going through this let me know your experience.

Steven55!

User type: OCD Conqueror

Date posted: 4d ago

I went through it when I was in college. When I was in school, they were pretty clueless about OCD. I wasn't correctly diagnosed until much later in life. Anyway, there were a lot of bad days, but I chose to stay in college, through force of will, and am thankful that I did. I can't speak for you, but if I were you I'd stay in college. Stay in college and stay in therapy. Are you getting therapy from a trained OCD therapist who uses ERP therapy? Meds are helpful, and you should give them a chance to work, but they really need to go in tandem with OCD talk therapy. I speak from experience. Stay in school. If you leave, you won't be any better off, OCD-wise, and you won't be helping your future. Besides, life gets in the way and you may never go back.Hope this helps.

Anonymous

Date posted: 4d ago

I really agree with Steven55! I wasn't diagnosed with anything until a few years after I graduated, so I struggled with anxiety, depression, and OCD throughout college without realizing it. It was hard and I didn't have straight As, but I made it through and I know without a doubt my life is better now for it. I would struggle to study or do assignments, and I would miss class for not feeling well but not really knowing why. Please stay in school if you can. You should have resources there (like a counseling center) that might not be as readily available when you aren't a student. Your professors might be understanding, plus your college should have an access and accomodations department that may be able to help.

User type: Therapist

Date posted: 4d ago

Hi there, it sounds like you're having a difficult time managing your symptoms with school. However, I also agree with what others have been sharing and would encourage you to stay in college as well. Speaking with a therapist who is trained in ERP would definitely help challenge the fears you are having now and getting you back to feeling more confident about school.

sullivan

Date posted: 4d ago

I’m also in college, and i want to tell you it does get better. if you can’t stand to do in person classes then you can do online next semester, but don’t give up!! college will give you so many opportunities later, and it will be good training for the post grad world. working with a therapist and a psychiatrist helped me get more comfortable. it’s scary but you can do it!! much love, good luck

PoisonNinja

Date posted: 3d ago

Noo, hang in there! I'm sorry to hear that you're struggling. It can take some time to see improvement and things might suck in the meantime, but this might be the path to getting better! Sometimes we have to go through hard times to be healed! Freshman year at college can already be a stressful time in itself and I'm sure having those disorders doesn't help, so don't be too hard on yourself! Have you talked to your therapist or psychiatrist about this? Or if your school has counseling services it might be worth seeing them! Also, taking some temporary time off from school (like a leave of absence) is OK too if you think it might help, but I wouldn't recommend completely dropping out! I took a semester off from college when I developed panic attacks because of a health scare, but I was able to go back and finish up my degree! There's no shame in doing that if you need to :), I found the time off to be helpful to get better to a point where I felt strong enough to go back to school.

ERocdjourney1

Date posted: 24w ago

Common symptoms that scare me silly

Hi, this is my first post. I am very nervous reaching out as I haven’t ever done so before publicly. I found out a year ago I had ocd and since then it’s been very clear that I have had it for a long time. I currently struggle with health ocd, death ocd, and I’m sure others as well, I always am scared I have or will develop an illness or schizophrenia. One thing I’m struggling with is depersonalization/derealization. I am under a lot of stress being in nursing school right now so maybe when I’m don’t with school I will feel better. Also I recently switched my medication to sertraline. I have been on it about a month and 1/2 but just increased my dose. It is worse when I first wake up. I am going to go see a therapist again once my PCP gets back to me with one that specializes in ocd. If anyone has had similar situations or recommendations to help me get back to feeling better that would be so greatly appreciated. I am also embarrassed to say I’m scared of getting schizophrenia. The obsessed with that began a year ago when I was taking psychology class. I became so afraid of getting it that I am constantly looking for signs or symptoms. It drives me bonkers. I would like to overcome that fear all together. Please give me advice. Thanks.

tlousluvr

Date posted: 22w ago

advice 🧸

hi. so one big factor of my OCD is rumination. i met a guy who i have a crush on the idea of (idea bc there are red flags). my biggest fear is not finding true love, my ex told me no one else would deal with what i have (my ocd, specifically reassurance seeking and getting overstimulated after intimacy). a few weeks ago, my friends and family all gathered and tried to give me advice that sounded like “you’re shy and you’ll never find someone.” after that, i’ve felt off. i’ve been using an unhealthy coping skill, daydreaming, and i’ve just felt unbalanced. my ocd makes everything feel different sometimes, i can’t explain it. life, myself, almost like being in a dissociated state. has anyone else experienced that? i don’t know how to remain balanced during my off times and i know pms exasperates it all. i take ashwaghanda and omega 3s in a multi vitamin daily. i take them all together in the evening but i’ve missed three days recently and also messed with my rocky sleep schedule because of fun times with friends. i hope these supplements work, because i don’t know if i’d be brave enough for medication. i had a bad reaction on prozac and often am forgetful. i just have been battling my OCD consciously for almost ten years now and unconsciously for longer. i am so tired, as my mental health extends beyond my OCD. i’m in talk therapy with some cbt aspects but i only see her twice a month. i’ve broken down so many times and promised myself id get on track or that certain things would work, but it’s like i am stuck in a circle that gets smaller when i’m able to help myself. i just want to be normal. i want to be able to mess up my sleep schedule to enjoy good times and not suffer horrible consequences or fear that i will be entirely thrown off balance. i don’t want to worry or doubt or feel so dissociative that i squint my eyes for a moment and wonder why i feel so unreal. i will never understand why god has allowed me to go through this. i cannot let it be for nothing but i don’t know how much more to bend and contort my body and brain to get somewhere stable but how lovely it would be if i could. i don’t have much of a schedule right now, i get apathetic and give in with things from time to time. one thing can trigger me and i am back to square one wether in a week or month. any advice, any and all is so helpful. your stories, your thoughts. maybe feeling less alone and knowing what has helped you is exactly what i need right now. thank you 💗

OrMsB

Date posted: 21w ago

Don’t know what to do anymore

Hi, I don’t know what to do anymore Pocd kills me I had many themes before but this theme is the hardest for me. I’m tired. I’m on therapy and meds but I barely do erp . I don’t have a reason I just don’t want to do it but today I will because I have to. I’m taking meds and they help with the anxiety for sure. But the obsessive part is still here . I’m almost 2 months on it (40 mg on Prozac) but I’m still super obsessed like I can have thoughts 24/7 every second of the day and not leave me alone. I have experienced a thought right now for a month + . It’s a thought to do compulsion/urge. My therapist says to let go and gives me tips how to she also tell me to do more erp. But I have this thought to do compulsion for more then month. Im scared what if I don’t have ocd the thought is 24/7. Do you think I should switch meds im so tired.

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