I had to make a tough decision this week, and I'm glad that I did it

[bicentennial_baby]

:hi: all

To make a long story shorter, over the past few months I've been losing my mind, slowly. Paralyzing anxiety and depression, no appetite, exhausted, sleeping all the time, not leaving the house, etc. etc.

That, combined with what's been going on with my parents' health problems, school, and my internship was just way too much for me to handle.

On Monday, I finally decided that something had to give if I was going to get better anytime soon.

Sooooo, as of yesterday, I have withdrawn from my internship, and am taking my thesis as incomplete. I will spend this semester getting better, mentoring my first year students, and finishing up some papers from last semester, and then I'll finish up my thesis over the summer. I'll probably be graduating in December.

It was a tough decision, but today is the first day I've woken up feeling rested, not anxious/depressed, and I spent the whole day cleaning my house, which has been long-neglected in my craziness. The Xmas presents are finally unpacked! :D

So that's all. :hi:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. best of luck!

[AlCzervik]

2. That's good, you've been burning the candle from both ends.

you need to take care of you too.

:hug:

[Shell Beau]

3. You have to take care of you. You deserve it!

:hug:

[Writer]

4. What's most important on that list is that you take care of yourself.

I fully understand the role of stress in academia. You need to let yourself heal.

:hug:

~Writer~

[Midlodemocrat]

5. Thank God. I was hoping you would do this.

:hug:

But, you still didn't call me. :(

[bicentennial_baby]

6. I'm sorry! I was mentoring all morning yesterday, and

then in a long meeting with my adviser in the afternoon, which wiped me out.

I will call you soon though, I promise. Thank you for helping me make the decision. :hug:

:loveya:

[bigwillq]

7. Good for you.

Mental health is very important. Hope you start to feel better. :hug:

[Shakespeare]

8. That you're feeling better really shows what a good decision that was.

So you graduate a few months later than you'd planned. NOT a big deal.

I'm really, really glad you're taking care of yourself for a change!!

:loveya: :hi:

[belladonna]

9. Sounds to me like you made the right choice

What good does the internship do you if you destroy your physical and mental health in the process?? Rest, my dear, it certainly sounds as though you deserve it!!

Btw, long time, no see!!! :hug:

[bicentennial_baby]

14. OMG! My love!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Send me an email and let me know how you and the Maggie-Monster are doing!

:loveya:

[graywarrior]

10. That's is such a healthy decision.

How did you come to make it?

[bicentennial_baby]

15. Basically

Monday was yet another day where I couldn't leave the house b/c I was so anxious and depleted. I just knew I had to do something, so I looked up my options, and talked to Midlo and then Sniffa, and then I emailed my adviser and met with her yesterday.

[graywarrior]

25. Sounds like you did the right thing.

[redqueen]

11. Good choice.

After all, there's no hurry, right?

Glad you're feeling better. :hug:

[kedrys]

12. I'm so glad you're feeling better!

You've definitely made the right decision. Chronic stress can kill over time, and it's not worth it. Congrats on actually being able to hang up for a while; that can be the hard part.

:hi:

[lunatica]

13. You know I learned something very important about limitations

Someone once told me that the best thing I could do for myself was to know my limitations. It's unfortunate that in this country people are supposed to be outstanding at everything and all at the same time. The fact is that we try to take on too much and when it doesn't work we beat ourselves up for being weak.

But, this lady told me and I found it to be true, if you know your limitations then you'll work at your peak level and like the turtle and the hare you will amaze yourself because of how far you can go. And on top of it you'll do it well.

Know your limitations. That was the best advice I ever received.

[City of Mills]

16. Smart move

Sanity comes first - I had a crisis which forced me to make a decision to drop out of school for a couple of semesters...I'm back now, and even though I can't help but think where i'd be academically if I had toughed it out, I know it was the right decision. I came back with a much better mindset and I will still get it done :)

[ThomCat]

17. That's probably a very good decision.

I hope you kick ass on your thesis. This extra time and break from the stress can only help. :)

I hope this lets you to pace yourself at a rate that leaves time and energy for non-academic problems too, because it seems like there is definitely no end to it all. :(

Hang in there. Be well! :)

[av8rdave]

18. I can only imagine how hard it must be to make a decision like that in those circumstances

Good on you!

[Forkboy]

19. You can only do so much.

And the more you feel you're getting behind the harder it gets, making you fall even further behind. Depression just totally feeds on itself, and it's so hard to climb out once it gets a hold of you.

This definitely sounds like the right move. :hug:

[harmonicon]

20. good call

It's important to remember that your health comes first - you can't do shit if you're too sick or out of your mind to do anything. I've done things like that. It feels good. There are times lately that I've wished I could, but I haven't..... too much at stake right now, unfortunately. Summer though.... there will be at least a few weeks of serious slacking off.

[Gormy Cuss]

21. It sounds like the right move. Amazing how our bodies can tell us this stuff, isn't it?

The problem comes when we don't listen.

Go play with the kittehs, will ya?
:pals:

[no name no slogan]

22. Good for you!

Better to do everything well a little later than do it all now and have it be half-assed. You definitely made the right decision! :thumbsup:

[PassingFair]

23. You have world enough, and time.

And the icing on the cake is that you KNOW
you are doing the smart thing.

Best of luck to you.

:hug:

[MrScorpio]

24. I hope that things work out the best you for

Good looking out!