Ashara

Hi! I'm currently a senior in high school and busily looking at different colleges. My dream is to eventually become an OB/GYN. However, I am worried about how I will perform socially and in some aspects academically in college. I really struggled in high school and eventually dropped out and tested into a Duel Enrollment program which allows me to take all college classes which count for both college and high school credit. I connect well with people when I have a chance to get to know them, but in new social situations, I am very quiet and reserved. I compare myself a little to Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. I can come off as extremely conceited while I’m not at all! But a big reason why I struggle is because I have social paranoia, it’s not extreme, and a lot of it stems from prior experiences, and I’m working hard to overcome it, but it’s still a problem sometimes. I also suffer from anxiety disorder, depression, ADHD, auditory processing disorder, PTSD, and Bulimia. I’m fighting, medicating and overcoming all of these, but I don’t want to let a bunch of chemical imbalances in my brain to hold me back in life. My Mom wants me to stay close to home so that I can still see my psychiatrist, counselor, and nutritionist and maybe even live at home and put college off for a year. I don’t think that it would be good for me. However, while I try to show a confident front to my parents deep down, I’m scared. Do any of you suffer from similar problems and have gone on to succeed in life? I don’t want my mental illness to stand in my way.

icedragon

Then don't let it...

I have ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, and a motor skill impairment, and i have found college to be hard.

Truth be told all you have to do is take one day at a time...

though it isn't all fun and games...

I nearly had an episode last week in my Japanese class because a classmate was standing too close to me....

but i was able to fight it off

Its not all bad, tell yourself that and i'm sure you'll do fine...

hidingout

As the parent of a child who was away at college when mental illness challenges struck, I have to say that you should strongly consider your mother's advice to stay home while you overcome some of your challenges. Looking back on his own problems, my child told me it may have been better for him to have stayed home during that time. Unless your home life is contributing to your problems, then I would consider staying home and skipping the stress of adjusting to a new environment, new social groups, new doctors, etc. You can always apply to schools now and get your acceptances in May. Then, if your problems continue through next summer, you can ask the school for a medical leave of absence and start at the school a semester or year later. Adjusting to an independent life while battling some real medical problems may be too much for you right now. Find your balance first and then build up to new experiences as you get stronger. This will not last forever. You will get better with time.

mildred

I'm 100% behind hidingout on that.

You know what I find funny? A ton of countries throughout our world have this thing called "gap year." And we, in the US, don't.

I mean, just all over the place it is sociably acceptable for one to sit out a year and travel or work on their health or catch up on their recreational reading and do volunteer work before going to college.