Gap year to get well or straight to uni?!
Question: My dr has recommended I take a year out (currently doing my Highers), to get well again, as I suffer with depression. I suppose going from one relatively easy higher to four very acedemic science ones put me under strain and made condition worse. I am on waiting list for DBT but this can take years.
At uni, I plan to do nursing as a BSc Hons degree before medicine. What is best? A year out? If so, what can I do in that year? Or uni? And what can I do to help myself and make sure I dont go more off track on the course? Many thanks, no silly answers please.
Answers: My dr has recommended I take a year out (currently doing my Highers), to get well again, as I suffer with depression. I suppose going from one relatively easy higher to four very acedemic science ones put me under strain and made condition worse. I am on waiting list for DBT but this can take years.
At uni, I plan to do nursing as a BSc Hons degree before medicine. What is best? A year out? If so, what can I do in that year? Or uni? And what can I do to help myself and make sure I dont go more off track on the course? Many thanks, no silly answers please.
I stressed out about university my last year of high school to the point that my mom suggested I take a year off. I refused because I thought if I did so well in high school I'd be fine in college. She was right, though. I barely made it through my first year of college because it triggered my first severe bipolar episode. If your doctor thinks it best for you to take a year off, he's probably right. Give yourself time to get settled and stable before putting so much academic pressure on yourself.
Take the GAP year, maybe after 6 months of rest you could travell for a while?
take the gap year and concentrate on getting better by going to a therapist.
also get part time job that isnt too stressful that will help keep you busy.
if you do go to uni before your better you'll probably wont do as well in your studies as you would have hoped and may get even more depressed.
Take a gap year:
- get counselling
- consider medication, if you haven't already
- exercise lots
- travel, perhaps
- get a part-time job
- spend lots of time with your friends and family
You need to find the perfect balance between taking it easy and keeping busy, and when you od, your life will be easier, making it a lot easier when you start uni.
If you're in Australia, you can do a few units online - maybe one at a time (they take about 3 months each) then when you begin uni you will have a bit of spare time during your first year. Go to www.open.edu.au Foreign students can use this too but it's a bit more expensive and I don't know if the US or elsewhere recognises the course units (they probably do but best to check). If you're in the US, UK or Canada there would be a similar thing I'm sure. That way you can work at home while you sort out your medical problem. Good luck.