Skip to content The Open University
  1. Platform
  2. Anxiety/Agoraphobia sufferers and OU

Anxiety/Agoraphobia sufferers and OU

4 replies [Last post]
- Mon, 28/11/2011 - 11:20

 Hey all, I was wondering if anyone here is or has been in the same position as me.  I suffer anxiety mostly and am afraid of going out where I have to interact with other people.  I tried to return to Uni this year and last year but have had to quit because I just can't make it into classes enough.  It's what ruined my first time at Uni as well but is now worse.

So at 31 I'm moving back home and studying Psychology with OU starting in Janurary.  I'm going to try and think of myself as a regular student, only the difference being I don't have to go out as much.  I don't want any thing getting in the way of studying anymore.  My experiences are what has made me interested in psychology, I really hope to be able to help others one day.

I'd love to hear from anyone else with a mental health condition.

 

 

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Robyn Bateman - Mon, 28/11/2011 - 15:42

Hi - and welcome to the OU! I think you more than make up for the anxiety with your determination to give higher education a go so well done for making plans to study around your anxieties and psychology is such a fascinating subject. It's great that you're not letting the anxiety force you to give up on a subject you sound incredibly passionate about.

As well as the forums associated with your course, you'll find plenty of people in a similar position as you, here on the Platform forums; I guarantee you won't be the only one.

Best of luck with your studies

__________________

Robyn Bateman (member of the Platform team)

Nicole Guggisberg - Sat, 03/12/2011 - 08:40

 Hello,

I read your post. 

I also suffer of agoraphobia but it's going better now! (I cross the fingers!). I know what it is and I think it would be something nice for you to do a course with OU. One day you will be better and you will have something in hands and I think it can give you confidence and think to other thing than illness. 

I can't tell you a lot on OU because it's my first course. (a short course in Science). It's very interesting and I enjoy it. The material is very well done. 

If you want to talk a bit more, I can give you my e-mail address. It would be a pleasure.

I am 52. I live in Switzerland, in the French part. It's so I certainly make mistakes in English.

See you soon, maybe.

Nicole

Amanda Meigh - Thu, 29/12/2011 - 15:18

hello

Dont despair I too have anxiety. I am further into recovery then you n have managed to conquer some fears outside my home but do still struggle . The OU have been fantastic and I have been lucky enough to have fantastic tutors whom made me feel at ease. Its great your doing a course it gives you something to focus on instead of the anxiety.

I used my studying to enable me to conquer my fear. As i went outside three years ago petrified by the thought I began distracting myself with what I needed to write in one of my TMA,s. I found the distraction of thinking of the psychologists theories a great help believe it or not lol. Seemed to work for me at that time.

Goodluck with the studying and feel free to fb me if like and we can chat, I do voluntary now within mental health services and have completed K101, KYJ113 and am embarking this year on two more modules :) . Sometimes just having someone to chat to in similar circumstances can help to combat the fears and anyway its great making new friends whether it be online or socially ... my fb is mandymeigh if your interested .

Take care

Amanda Meigh (mandy)

 

Gill Bone - Thu, 26/01/2012 - 23:08

 Hi. I also suffer from anxiety and it's awful. I'm well at the moment but the palpitations, night sweats and tight chest are a daily reminder that's it's never far from me. 

This is my 4th course with the OU and I really enjoy studying. I work part time and sometimes find that I have too much thinking time so through is a great distraction!

 

Study Support

Group notifications

This group offers an RSS feed. Or subscribe to these personalized, sitewide feeds: