University - 2 years from Brain Injury Diagnosis

[TheMind]

I'm in the first year of my studies at university. I'm really struggling with overload of information, understanding and overwhelming tiredness both from uni and life in general. I've struggled with my mental health before but occasionally my brain injury gets me down because I'm unable to do the things I want to do and the exhaustion prevents me from getting things done. I want to complete university, it's a degree I'm really interested in but I feel like I'm close to burn out and I don't know what to do going forward 😮‍💨

[Plenty]

well done on getting to university, what subject are you doing a degree in?

[TheMind in reply to Plenty]

Thank you it's Creative Expressive Arts, Health and Wellbeing 🙂

[Leaf100]

Hi TheMind,

Are you doing a full course load?

There is no shame in doing a part time load, and taking longer to finish.

It may be more doable for you.

I live in Canada, and a lot of people do part time because they are also working to help fund their education. If you need to do part time so you can actually keep up with the work - do that.

Your brain is also still healing and will learn how to study and do the things you need, so it should be a little easier over time - or at least some of it will.

The brain heals quite fast in the first 3 to 4 years afterward - you still continue to heal after that, it just happens at a slower pace.

You are doing super to get into uni, please don't give up on yourself.

You could even consider it therapy of a sort. Cause it is.

Keep us posted, and if you need a pep talk or some coping ideas, ask. Someone will have ideas for you.

Leaf

[TheMind in reply to Leaf100]

Hi Leaf,I would love to do it part time and have looked into the option because I genuinely believe it would be more manageable for me. The only issue is that Student Finance England will only fund you if you are doing a full time course for 3 years which is a pain because I wouldn't be able to fund an extra year.

As for working whilst studying, that wouldn't be possible for me due to the fatigue I experience but mostly my physical health which prevents me from doing alot of things.

I'm really hoping things get easier because my life in general, with university aside, is very hectic and constantly demanding as well which doesn't help. I'm struggling alot mentally with it all at the moment but I hope things will get better in time.

Thanks,

Megan

[Leaf100 in reply to TheMind]

Thanks for letting me know, Megan.

I wonder...

Do they not make allowances for medical reasons? It might be worth asking... They may not... Sometimes though such programmes do make exceptions but they don't really tell people unless they ask.

Leaf

[Painting-girl]

Hello TheMind, and welcome to the forum. As Leaf says, you've done really well to get to university with a brain injury. Do your tutors and the college know about your health issues? It would be worth finding out what accomodations they can offer you, like extra time to complete work and exams.

You may already have this link but it might help you get support in uni

ucas.com/undergraduate/stud....

Are you in halls or working from home? Pre brain injury I did a full time degree as a mature student, and you do get a lot thrown at you in the first year - I had a headache for the first semester even without a brain injury.

Leaf's suggestions of a part time degree is very sensible. Try and talk things over with the college - they are there to help you succeed - and see what they can come up with.

When was your brain injury, and what happened to you?

Do hope things work out for you.

[Mads1975]

I empathise. I had to take ill health retirement from a head of Dept for a global bank.

Some years later I tried returning to college (where I had previously attained distinction in Business and Finance when a teenager) to take a bookkeeping qualification.

I found it so difficult to digest the complex information and felt like the class idiot.

I dropped the course after successfully applying for PIP which felt like my ABI was somehow validated

[Hidden]

Hi I'm in my last year on a master's degree, I went part time three years after my accident, I really struggled in the first year but my marks were above average. I would not have been able to do full time because I had to manage sensory overload, fatigue, cognition and memory deficits. Lectures were for whole days, 2 or 3 days in a row every month. I could not follow them after an hour on the first day, 20 mins on the second day and not at all on the third day. It took a week to recover, luckily the lectures were recorded and I could watch what was required over and over again later. I had to cut everything else in life out. I did find the learning process was rehabilitative because you have to learn to read and take in the information, to think again and be productive by writing. It helped integrate sensory, perceptual and cognitive functioning. I'm pretty much normal now with only a few minor dysfunctions that I avoid or manage.

It's worth having a chat with your personal tutor to get any issues logged down to mitigate any issues that may crop up. I asked about dispensation for brain injury effects, but the surprise was there are none, they only officially exist for dyslexia and dyspraxia in my uni. As you are coming to the end of the year soon it may be an idea just to concentrate on the work and leave everything else out. Narrow down to the bare minimum to get through the rest of the year to pass your exams or course work. Then have a break in the summer, see how you fared with your results and decide what to do next year.

[skydivesurvivor]

take a breather!! Sit and empty u mins over coffee? Seems u lucky! My experience of tbi suggests u lucky! I can’t even remember a shopping list(2) items til I put the key in my door having gotten wrapped up & journeyed to neArest shop!!! A degree is unfathomable!! Smile at y frustrations to spite them!! If nothing else, might raise y spirits!! 😉

[Skulls]

Painting-girl’s suggestion to discuss with your course tutor is a good one. Years ago, unsupported by my employer (police) and teetering on the edge of a full breakdown I contacted the OU to knock my studies on the head. I just couldn’t cope any more. They tried to be supportive but I couldn’t be helped. It did show that despite the apparently rigid deadlines there was some leeway. (Now I have the time to complete the course, the brain is injured and I lack the money to pay the course fees…)

[Oppo24]

I absolutely agree with the suggestions to try to go part time and also to have a frank discussion with your tutor explaining the issues.

I did an MA 4 years after my brain injury and am so pleased I did. It was a struggle at times but I discussed with my tutor and did it part time to reduce overload. I recorded lectures and talks so I could re-listen afterwards, wrote reams of notes, set lots of reminders and asked lots of questions but it was so worthwhile. I achieved a Merit!

Good luck and stick with it - you’ll be so pleased you did.

[sashaming1]

You may need to sart by taking less classes.

[paxo05]

Hi there, as others have said WELL DONE on getting to uni.Does the university know of your struggles? If not then tell them. If they do then ask for help.

There is no shame in asking for help. The simple fact you have achieved the ability of getting there proves you belong there.

As others have already said maybe part time may be an option.

After my bi I was unable to continue working in anything I was trained for. I tried retraining but fell behind to much to continue.

The only course I managed was in Art. Always wanted to learn colouring in as I called it. Yes it nearly took me 3 times as long to complete but I got there. It was no help getting a job but the achievement I felt was unbelievable.

Talk to the university , they may surprise you.

All the best

Pax

[CanisLupus]

Defiantly discuss with the Uni, they usually have a very good funded support help. My daughter had a buddy/mentor an older retired gentleman that help her with time management and proof reading. She was also given recording devices to help her remember and extra time.

[Painting-girl]

Lots of advice here M, I think your Students Union would be able to point you in the right direction, but definitely talk it over with tutors as well. Once you've started a degree they will really try hard to help you to stay the course - I switched degrees midstream from a four year course to a three year course when financial problems struck at home, for example. I think one type of accomodation they can make sometimes is to allow you more than the three years to complete the full time degree, which might get you round the funding situation.

Have you had tests done by a neuropsychologist ? That may possibly throw up an acceptable learning issue - I was shown to have quite marked dyspraxia after my MTBI.

(The suggestion made here to record your lectures is a great one by the way 😊)

[bonfire]

Hello The Mind

Well done, is your course continuous assessment?

Ask for extensions o your course work when needed and pace yourself.