struggling to complete degree

Post Reply New Topic

Currently I've completed around 60% of my undergraduate degree, but I'm not sure I have what it takes to finish it entirely, and I don't know what to do. True, I'm feeling more stressed now due to this semester coming to a close, but even during the time periods right after exams have been taken with not much work to do in the immediate future I feel very overwhelmed. I struggle to come up with an alternative to school, but leaving seems very desirable. I have chronic jaw pain (brought on by TMJ likely), so my concentration never is very good. I suffer from severe writer's block as well. Last week I wasn't able to synthesize some information from a 400+ page book for a term paper, and fell into a serious bout of depression for several days and had little reason to get out of bed until very late in the afternoon, approaching the early evening. I do average to well in my classes, but find no meaning in them (I'll withhold specifically what it is I study to maintain a little privacy, but it involves literature). I can't decide what to do with myself. I tell this to close friends continuously, and they reply with the question: "What makes you feel good?" I have no response for this, and find it sad. I've lumped a few different topics within this post, but felt it was most appropriate to put here in the college forum.

If I was you I would finish the degree as your nearly there and you dont want to waste your struggle so far.

I would get some 'hypnotherapy' either a CD or a personal session. I found it very helpful for exam/workload stress.

http://www.amazon.com/Study-Exam-Succes ... 669&sr=8-6

http://www.amazon.com/Self-Hypnosis-Day ... 69&sr=8-11

http://www.amazon.com/Paul-McKennas-Per ... 69&sr=8-16

I was going to suggest hypnotherapy too. Hold onto that degree and be patient you'll get through. Please don't lose hope now that you are almost there.

Thanks for your encouraging words of positivity. I've had some experience with hypnotherapy, and found it was not helpful. But, I may not have given it a fair chance. I plan to look into these resources provided above. Another issue quickly making itself known to me, that either of you two first posters might be able to assist me with, is learning how to deal with and understand subject matter which is entirely foreign to you but required within your particular field of study. Specifically, for me, this would be the area of politics. For this next upcoming semester, two of my courses will be rather heavy (I expect) political science courses which demand a constant connecting of ideas, characters, and themes from various time periods. I'm worried these classes might put me past the brink of endurance and result in an unfortunate outcome (choosing to withdraw). Going into my major I knew that these courses would be included in the course progression, but I assumed by the time I registered for them I'd have expanded and developed my sense of political understanding. How incorrect I was. I feel nearly incapable of handling courses such as these. Do your recommendations remain the same? (hypnotherapy, meditation, perseverance) Maybe some other advice could be offered? (I'm hopeful)

If you speak to your tutor, maybe they'll be able to help you?

I said the same thing to a 12 year old earlier...

In order to go through University, you need to have a strong sense for purpose, direction.. you need to know why you are there and what you want to do

You're not going to find University interesting if you don't take the right subjects. You're not going to accomplish much in your life if you can't use your degree.

In order to succeed, you need to feel like there is wind at your back that you know where you are going

well my degree was psychology and after, I did a life science diploma (half degree) which went straight into 3rd year science including genetics, chemistry etc and I thought it would be beyond me as I have not even science gcse but actually it was very refreshing after years of psychology and I found it very interesting and scored much higher. In my msc in psychological research methods it has been quite wide ranging and covering topics completely new to me but at a post graduate level but yet again its been refreshing to learn something new.

Im someone who suffers from extreme anxiety and have had to drop courses in the past and actually left school at 14 due to anxiety. However Ive found the key thing for me is when I feel over whelmed and that I cant cope any more is to put it in perspective (the worst thing which will happen is: I fail, so not worth topping self over) and doing mental rehearsal (imagining writing good essays). Ive read some good study guides and essay guides which boosted my confidence and lots of books on beating perfectionism as that really limits me also.

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Study-Guide- ... 233&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Good-Essay-Writin ... 197&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Overcoming-Perfec ... 318&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Present-Perfect-M ... 282&sr=1-2

If I were you I would get some beginners political science books too, Im sure there are loads, look at the wiki pages for the characters coming up as that gives a good 'lead in' to subjects.

On that note, keep in mind that you can get the books for those classes early and look through them before classes start. That way, when the time comes to actually learn this stuff, you'll have at least seen it before.

Make an action plan. Break the process down into smaller processes. concentrate on one at a time. Maybe you could talk to the professor about this and tell him/her it is required you do the courses for your degree and tell them you are a beginner and ask them what you should read up. Then find a study group if you have no trouble interacting with fellow students. or you could find an one-on-one-tutor who could guide you through the course. I learn fast when someone is tutoring me because I tend to be disorganized so if it works for you too try it. Finally if you have a counselling center in your school approach them for help with your problems as soon as possible. Don't lose hope. stay positive there's more to gain from completing the degree than giving up now. read the material more than once. don't get disheartened after reading it once.That's the mistake I do. It takes time to understand and store it in your memory and as you do it gets interesting. So good luck!

Nootropics. (: