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Studying with CFS

Sat, 20/09/2008 - 10:21pm — jules

Hey Marina,

In response to your other link, I'm studying Community Education at the uni of Canberra. It's all about community development and adult education. What I like about it is that when (or if) I finish I'll be able to work in really anything that interests me, it's very broad. For my final year I've been doing a year-long project together with a community organisation in Canberra, but it's become too difficult with my health so I'm going to postpone the rest of the project until next year.

Study was always my priority for me - I gave up work when I became unwell so I could finish studying. My lecturers have been really flexible with me and allowed me to listen to lectures online and not come to tutorials this year. (I'm not sure if they would have allowed that if I was just starting the whole degree though.) I wouldn't have been able to get this far without that flexibility as I've been housebound for a while. I'm also trying to be mindful of not being a perfectionist with my assignments - perfectionism is so unhealthy but really really hard for me to control!

Your course in Social Development sounds fantastic. I'd be happy to workshop ideas with you about going back to study, when you come to that. In my experience CFS and study have been hard to balance but not impossible.
jules

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Tue, 23/09/2008 - 8:55pm — Marina

Thanks Jules! Your studies

Thanks Jules! Your studies sound very interesting and right up my alley! Before I got ill I was doing some volunteer work with former refugees and helped out a few grass roots NGOs. That's how I got inspired about the Social Development course. Although now I have decided to transfer to Psychology (fingers crossed)!

I totally understand what you mean about the perfectionism. I think a lot of us CFS sufferers only know too well about this aspect of our natures and it is hard learning your new limits.

I'll definitely jump back on this thread for some advice when I begin studying again!

At the moment I am working hard at relaxing! How ironic huh! Well you know what I mean! I am trying to learn and practise relaxation techniques because I am aware that I need to manage stress a little better than I have in the past. My adrenals are wrecked. As soon as there is any slight emotional stress my body takes the toll and I spend days recovering. So I am trying to meditate on a daily basis. Hopefully this will help when I start studying again.

Best of luck with your assignments! Don't be too hard on yourself now Smiling

Marina

Sat, 04/10/2008 - 9:25pm — Amy B

Studying

Well, it seems like a lot of us have been studying in the psych area. I started my degree as a psych student. I ended up switching after a year cause I found it a bit too much physiology for me, but you'll probably be different. And yes, I'm definitely a perfectionist too.
I found uni was made a lot easier because of the flexibility it offered, and the understanding approach of nearly all the lecturers. Online recordings of the lectures are also really helpful, although not all unis allow them. From my knowledge, I think Macquarie usually records lectures, whereas Sydney and UNSW tend not to record the lectures and so don't have them online (correct me if I'm wrong).
I actually ended up stopping uni for 6 months due to illness, but went back after that. So even if things get really bad I'm proof that you can still get back to uni when you pick up a bit. Despite my illness, I really enjoyed uni and am so glad that I did it.
On another note, how's your meditation going Marina?

Amy

Mon, 13/10/2008 - 5:20pm — Marina

Hey Amy, I have been

Hey Amy,

I have been meditating on and off but still trying to get into a routine. I do two types of meditation - one for relaxation but one also to learn mindfulness. I totally understand the ideas behind mindfulness but my lazy mind finds it very difficult! I haven't given up yet though Smiling

Basically, I am looking for a place to rest within. I have realised that there is no escaping my reality and living environments - they are the best I am going to get them at the moment so when all is crazy around me I want to be able to find peace within.

Do you meditate or have any secrets for relaxing?

Also, UNSW does have lectopia online if anyone is wondering ;P

Tue, 14/10/2008 - 9:58pm — jules

meditation

Hi Marina & Amy,

I've been trying to practice meditation for a while too; I know that if I could do it regularly it would help my anxiety about trying to keep up with uni when I'm unwell. I find it really difficult to keep my mind from wandering though, when I'm meditating. Sometimes I find that chanting a mantra helps to keep me focused and it even got me to go to sleep one night, not an easy task! I do miss being able to go for a run to lower the stress hormone levels, I must say. I think if I practice more regularly it will eventually become easier.

Aside from that I recently got extended withheld results for this semester, so I have until the mid next year to finish my assignments, phew... then I'll be finished my degree!
jules

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