Brooke
1. Have you used answer services provided by UT for help with your biopolor disorder? If so, were they helpful/ easy to obtain etc.?
"I attempted to go to the UT medical center to discuss problems I initially started to notice with my mood and depression my junior year of college. Unfortunately, I found the psychiatrist to be extremely rude and standoffish (I think you'll find that many people say this. I have discussed this matter with at least 5 other people who I know go and talk to her). This led me to feel negative towards the way people received mental disorders, especially is the supposed psychiatrist wasn't even helpful."
2. If applicable, are your teachers willing to work with you if you run into problems with classwork because of your biopolar disorder?
"My professors at UT were so understanding and helpful at this terrible time in my life, that it honestly still makes me want to cry out of thankfulness and appreciation. They understood what I was going through and were willing to work with me every step of the way, giving me extra time with homework if needed, talking to me, and being especially caring. There was a time that I was having pretty severe reactions to my medication, and my professors always understood if I had to get up and leave. IN addition, on Monday's a certain professor always let me leave 10 minutes early so I could make it to NAMI meetings on time, which was a very helpful support group.
I think what impressed them (and myself) is that I never took advantage of this. I didn't let this "disability" hinder me, instead, I let it empower me and strengthen me as a student and a person. As odd as it sounds, I don't think I would be where I am today if I hadn't been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. All of the above mentioned professors wrote letters of recommendation for me, some of them mentioning my strength and passion for literature and school despite my "disability". Here I am getting paid to teach Composition and going to Grad school for free!"
3. What would you feel others don't understand about having a mental illness (bipolar disorder) and what would you like them to know?
"I do feel at times that people do not understand bi-polar disorder, primarily because there is a negative connotation and misunderstanding about it. A lot of people will make jokes towards each other, saying "you're so bi-polar!" when they are mad about something, when honestly, it's not so black and white as people make it out to be. However, I have found that when I explain to people what it really is, they understand, and often confess that they had no idea that I have it. I then explain to them that I don't let it take over my life, and that's why they don't notice."
4. OVERALL, to you think that UT is accepting and accommodating of students with mental illnesses? If so, HOW? If not, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
"I DO think the faculty and students are accommodating to students with "disabilities" however, I think that the health campus could do more to make it known that it's okay to come talk about your problems, and perhaps hire a new psychiatrist"A. Smith (email communication, November, 2011)
I have indeed. When I was diagnosed last spring, I utilized the counseling center (as I met with a counselor weekly starting late fall semester last year), and in addition, I also saw my psychiatrist weekly starting in Feb or so of last year, to make sure my meds were agreeing with me-and it took a bit for that to happen so I am VERY happy that he was able to meet with me so often, if only for 10 mins because it is why I finally found a med that actually agreed with my neurochemistry and helped me to cope with my mental illness-OCD (the more obsessive side of it versus the compulsive side of it).2. If applicable, are your teachers willing to work with you if you run into problems with classwork because of your mental illness?
Actually, this happened to me. I was taking the second semester of ochem last spring when I was diagnosed and maybe like in late March, early April or so, I met with my prof and told him about my situation, and although it took a lot of work and effort on both our parts, he was able to give me an Incomplete in the course so I could retake it in the summer because two of my major OCD triggers were in that class and it made it very hard to concentrate on material taught in class as well as material that I reviewed/studied in my apartment. That was really the only class that I was really struggling with in terms of my illness, as like I said before, two of my triggers were in that class, but I kinda wished I would've talked to my other professors about it because of my struggles with ochem, it kinda fed into my other classes and I assume based upon how my professors last spring semester were, they would've allowed me to do that. I was very surprised at how my former ochem prof took the fact that I was trying to get an Incomplete in the course, as this prof had a reputation for being a hard ass in the class, but was actually extremely nice outside of the class and was extremely accommodating to my needs.3. What would you feel others don't understand about having a mental illness and what would you like them to know?
That we're not crazy or weak or whatever. I mean, when my psychiatrist told me that I had OCD, I was crushed (and partially relieved because I was worried that I had schizophrenia of some sort) because I was worried by how my parents, and close friends would say so they would know if I acted differently, as that was one of the side effects on both meds I was on (both the one that didn't work and the one that did work), and while said friends did make fun of me (in a kinda sorta playful way), they understood. In addition, they may not understand the fact that having OCD (and I also suffered from visual hallucinations as well, so I had-as my psychiatrist told me-a very special and interesting case of OCD as I didn't suffer from auditory ones, just visual ones) that I was actually seeing things that weren't there; I wasn't making it up that I would see little black orbs floating in my apartment, or see spiders run across the floor in my apartment, or birds flying the sky that weren't actually there, or a very tall, black figure actually physically touch me on the shoulder). I was worried that friends would think that I was just attention seeking, which therefore caused me more paranoia, which therefore became another obsession, which just started a never ending cycle. What the general population needs to know is that people with mental illnesses are just like everyone else in that we wear the same clothes, we have friends, we still feel emotion, but it is just that something inside our brain, a part of our neurochemistry is out of wack and that's it; we shouldn't be shunned, or made fun of because of whatever. It also kinda bugged me when I would hear people in the union or in class or at work say something to the extent of "Oh…man, I totally have OCD." It bugged me because while they may have obsessive tendencies, chances are they don’t (or will never) suffer from the psychological side effects that I had ie paranoia, panic attacks, hallucinations, severe crippling obsessions/intrusive thoughts, like the fact that I just wanted to literally kill people, or cause great devastation-like trying to derail a train or have powerful extreme lusts over people that I just saw walking around campus, etc.4. OVERALL, to you think that BGSU is accepting and accomodating of students with mental illnesses? If so, HOW? If not, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I think, to an extent, BGSU is indeed accepting to students who suffer from a mental illness. I mean, the counseling center and the health clinic literally saved my life because I got the medical attention that I needed so I could cope with my mental illness and get through that literally hell on Earth spring semester. Those two resources, especially the former, is something that should be brought to attention more often than it should be. In addition, maybe having some sort of mental health awareness week with screenings for people who think they might be suffering from depression, general anxiety disorder, or OCD, or bipolar disorder (as the latter two is what I, to an extent was suffering from as I would experience very intense and sudden periods of mania and depression). In addition, to the screenings having people who suffer (or suffered) from the mental illness to talk about the fact that you're still a person when you have a mental illness to erase the stigma about mental illness and how some people who may indeed suffer from one doesn't want to talk to anyone about it because they would feel out of place, or awkward, or weak, etc. Maybe have some sort of organization that is anonymous so students could come and talk about their problems as well (kinda like a life support group).S. Smith (email communication, November, 2011)
Kathy
1. Have you used answer services provided by BGSU/Kent for help with your mental illness? If so, were they helpful/ easy to obtain etc.?
No, I have not. Though as a counseling student at Kent, I do have access to Akron's student counseling center if I would need it. It is also stressed in our program that we are very conscious of our own mental health, as a part of being a professional. While it is not required by the program, nearly all of the professors suggest that all counseling students see a counselor at least once while they're in the program. Also, with some classes you are both in a counselor position and in a client position. (i.e. Our group therapy class is an actual working group that is created and counselor roles are alternated weekly.) There is a lot of introspection throughout your time in the program.2. If applicable, are your teachers willing to work with you if you run into problems with classwork because of your mental illness?
I would say that 90% of them would, if I asked. A couple professors have even said (to the class as a whole) that if something occurs out of the blue on exam day that would cause severe anxiety or emotional distress, to call them to reschedule. Of course, it does help that I'm in the mental health field, so all of my professors are licensed professionals with a certain level of empathy for their students.
The only time I ever had to ask a professor to excuse missed work was in my undergrad. I had an anxiety attack an hour before a band concert. (This was brought on by several issues, but not the concert itself) I ended up not being able to attend. Later, the professor asked if I was being treated for my anxiety, and I said yes including medication. To make up for the performance, I wrote a 10-page paper. I thought this to be reasonable. However, it did seem as though if I weren't being treated, he would not have allowed me to make up the class points.
I should also mention that anxiety attacks for me are extremely rare, so my anxiety normally doesn't get in the way of my school work at this point in my life. If anything, my school work is what keeps me from having anxiety problems. It's normally the worst in the summer when I'm not in school. It's almost like I feel better when there are things to be stressed about, instead of sitting around being anxious about nothing and there is no beginning or end.3. What would you feel others don't understand about having a mental illness and what would you like them to know?
I think that often times people who do not understand mental illness will believe that you can simply will your way through it. They don't have a mental illness so when they feel sad, stressed, angry, etc. they can brush it off and get on with their day. Secondly, when someone has a "mental illness" that doesn't automatically mean they have something severe which would make them dangerous or "crazy". It also doesn't mean that it's long-term, or that they've always had this illness. It also doesn't mean that their illness is a part of their personality, but part of a bigger picture of their identity. (Unless of course, said mental illness is a personality disorder. See statement about being dangerous or crazy.)
4. OVERALL, to you think that BGSU/Kent is accepting and accomodating of students with mental illnesses? If so, HOW? If not, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
I think Kent is more visible in their acceptance of those with mental illness than BG. It has at least two mental health centers on campus, and the psych department flyers for free screening weeks for the students. It is hard for me to judge the scope of a university, since I have no connection to it outside my classes in my department. I would say though, that there seems to be more acceptance between graduate students than between undergrad students, regardless of university. I would guess that this is a maturity issue over anything else though. It's the idea that you've come out of your drunken college haze to realize that the other adults around you each have their own problems too, and some of them may be in the form of a mental illness.K. Smith (email communication, November, 2011)
Again, just like with learning disabilities, it is evident that the campus climate and culture make up a large amount of how accepted a student feels on campus. It seems that faculty play a large role as well as the institutions way of helping students with disabilities. For example a student at BGSU believes that the counseling center needs to be better publicized where as a person at Kent (who went to BG) has a campus that does that, and she feels that is an inclusive environment (even the physical environment...advertisement... can make the difference.
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