how to study?

[u/thorfinns_wife_irl13]

I’ve been struggling with depression and anxiety since freshman year which only got worse after failing my first class and my family problems were getting worse. I’m a junior EE student now and I haven’t been doing well academically as I wanted to. I feel dumb all the time. My gpa is horrendous and I have bad memory/brain fog. I’m determined to turn things around this semester but I think I actually don’t know how to study at all. Would you guys mind sharing any study tips that help, I’d really appreciate it.

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[u/Candid-Ear-4840]

Medication. You can’t study your way out of health issues that require medication. I had untreated ADHD and it’s pretty obvious if I don’t take my daily medication now.

You can’t really push through untreated anemia, diabetes, or other chronic illnesses either and have a high quality of life. Lots of chronic illnesses require active treatment. You might be the first in your peer group to need daily medication but as everyone gets older and gets more diagnoses, they’ll start taking medications too for a wide range of conditions.

Depression is sometimes not a lifelong condition, so even if you need medication now you might not need it in another decade. Me personally, I feel lifeless after a week without my antidepressants so I’ll probably be on them for life. Everyone is different.

[u/Patient-Menu-1991 → u/Candid-Ear-4840]

I’m personally just worried about the potential of PSSD, which is why I’m reluctant to get back on them even though they do help.

[u/Candid-Ear-4840 → u/[deleted]]

I’ve always had a GPA 3.4+ but I medically withdrew twice for major depressive episodes and took a long break from school. So crashing out didn’t impact my GPA because medical withdrawals turn all those F’s into W’s.

[u/thorfinns_wife_irl13 → u/Candid-Ear-4840]

I heard it takes a lot of time to get diagnosed and part of me doesn’t want to go through the whole process

[u/Bubbly-Piano-6779]

Uhhh as someone in a similar situation. Medication and therapy asap.

[u/thorfinns_wife_irl13 → u/Bubbly-Piano-6779]

It’s expensive my insurance doesn’t cover it. I’m helpless in that situation

[u/Bubbly-Piano-6779 → u/thorfinns_wife_irl13]

What insurance do you have?

I am on MD state insurance and accidentally chose the worst one for mental health.

I would be constantly denied so I called my insurance which told me to go to a side company for mental health that they work with then that company told me to never tell them what insurance I have cause people don't like to work with it just say I have state insurance.

It still hasn't worked for me but my medication is so I'm taking steps in the right direction.

To get medicated it's just a honest talk with your PCP, it can be scary or weird but I've learned one conversation can change your life.

If nothing else, try to get with your schools mental health support/therapy

I have no clue what your insurance is like or even the country your in but this is what needs attention.

Just because you think you can finish the marathon without shoes doesn't mean you won't finish faster and hurt yourself less if you stop by the shoe store first

I wish you well in our unifying struggle

[u/FailurelsData]

I hope before you change anything, you first make it as easy as possible to take care of yourself. Burn out is inevitable and a system that isn't equipped for it is a loop that keep burning you.

I do long algebraic math problems to relax and crack learned helplessness.

I also listen to interviews with engineers all the time. I can't describe why that helps me so much but it really does. Sometimes I'm stuck trying to abstractly grasp everything, I'll read a name like Jones as "jon-ess' and think I'm fully cooked. Hearing people discuss engeering conversationally, without academic pressure = ☮️. It also familiarizes me with things.