BChicken Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I'm in the middle of my undergraduate degree right now, and I've pretty much murdered my GPA due to my laziness. For the last two years, I have been frequently missing/skipping class. Even when I am awake and ready to leave, I start feeling anxious about leaving my room, and I just end up skipping. When I try to study, I feel sleepy and tired. I sleep for abnormally long periods (sometimes more than 10 hours) and I feel unmotivated about anything academic related. Recently, a close friend suggested that maybe I was suffering from SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I live in an apartment by myself, and the curtains are closed 24/7 (for privacy reasons), so she thought maybe I was depressed because I wasn't getting enough sunlight. At first I thought that this made sense, because I feel motivated during the summer and the fall, but once Oct/Nov hits, I just lose all my energy. But the more I think about it, the more it feels like I'm just rationalizing my own laziness. I feel blue and anxious quite frequently, but not to the extent of feeling suicidal or wanting to cry all the time. And I don't seem to have as much trouble when doing things that aren't academic-related (e.g. volunteering). So I guess what I wanted to ask was, do you guys think it's possible that I'm actually depressed, or am I just trying to find an excuse for being a lazy bum? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eugenius Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 It seems your problem has mostly to do with academics. Do you find yourself unmotivated in other areas of your life? Because if you are then you could be "depressed", however, if it just has to do with school then i think it is more of a lack of motivation/confidence thing. It takes a lot of energy to succeed academically. You have to wake up, get ready, walk all the way to your class. Sit through boring classes. Come home and go over what you learned. Study long hours for exams. It's not easy, and it's especially hard to keep pushing yourself when you're not getting the results you want. Just remember why you're doing this in the first place, and try and see the point in all this. 5 years from now, you don't want to look back and say "i really should've tried to go to classes and do better in school". Do you have any friends in class? Maybe you could get notes off someone or ask them to record the lecture for you, so you don't have to wake up. Try studying right when you wake up so you aren't as tired. Or start exercising and eating better, it will give you much more energy throughout your day, I guarantee it. Take vitamins, and get some sun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erk Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Small note, practice studying in new places. Coffee shops and things. Learn to focus on your work while there are distractions around you. Two upsides: -you'll be able to work in more environments if you learn to shut out external distractions -you won't be shut in all the time and will probably feel better about school. Cheers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedPen Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 If you're worried at all about being depressed, why not make an appointment with your family doc and talk to him/her? Sometimes, just talking about your worries helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corie Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 I find taking multivitamins, making sure I get enough Vitamin B complexes and some vitamin D helps with my alertness and mood quite a bit. Especially in the winter times when I see no sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Med Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 If you're a guy or even a women, there are things you can do to relieve some of that laziness/apathy. Apply as needed. Quick-fix solution nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HBP Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 This is a deeper issue than just academic laziness. Go see someone who can help you (i.e. nobody on premed101). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedDream Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Hey, I don't think anybody here on pm101 is really going to be able to help you out. Even if this isn't depression, it probably wouldn't hurt to go see your family doc or a counsellor. I know that counselling for students is often free if there are services on campus and you can walk right in most times. It can't hurt. If you are feeling unmotivated... maybe you don't like the material you are studying? But it does seem like there is something deeper going on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatonekid Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 This is a deeper issue than just academic laziness. Go see someone who can help you (i.e. nobody on premed101).+1 Go to your university's health services and see a doctor/counsellor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medlor2010 Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Or just take these pills and you'll be fine in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tooty Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 And I don't seem to have as much trouble when doing things that aren't academic-related (e.g. volunteering). sounds like you're just lazy. get your ass to class and hit them books! if you're really worried just go to your dr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrogirl Posted March 28, 2011 Report Share Posted March 28, 2011 Generally I think that if you're worried enough about something to ask if you should be worried about it, it's probably a good idea to go and get a professional opinion from a counselor. It sounds like you definitely have some anxiety about school, and a counselor can help you find ways to deal with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.