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Sunday 3 May 2015

University With a Chronic Illness (It's Possible!)

I am fast approaching the end of my first year at university and I as I'm typing I can't quite believe I've made it here! Minus a few blips along the way, it's been amazing. I've made some fabulous friends, learnt so much more about myself, gotten to know a new city and opened up so many more creative doors than I ever knew possible. 

Many of you know I suffer from a chronic illness and that was one of the things that scared me most about going to university. How was I going to handle it? What if I got ill? What if people didn't wanna be friends with me? All those worries seem crazily insignificant now and I've made a short list to reassure and help anyone with a chronic disease who is thinking of applying to university because even if the tiniest part of you thinks you want to go, do it and don't let your illness hold you back!



Don't be afraid to ask for help.

If you've not been well and are finding it hard to hand your work in on time ask for an extension. My experience from this year is that staff are incredibly understanding and want you to succeed. I've not been well personally for the last few weeks and have had to ask for a few deadlines to be extended and felt bad about it... I have learnt that I shouldn't. Staff would much rather give you an extension and get to mark a good piece of work than have you hand in a pile of crap and leave you knowing you could have done much better. As one of my friends said to me the other day 'Extensions were created for a reason' so don't feel bad about asking for one. 

Take time out if you need it. 

I am someone that absolutely hates missing class. More than anything. Honestly, I feel really guilty if I don't go in. But I have learnt that if I can't make it to class sometimes - it's okay. It really is. Having an illness is a legitimate reason to not always make it in so don't feel bad about it, don't stress about it and don't push yourself to do things you can't physically do. As long as you catch up with your work when you're feeling better, you will be okay. 


Be upfront and open about your illness.

This applies to both the university itself and your friends. Before I arrived at university I told them I had an illness and they responded with reams of support. They told me how to apply for disabled student allowance, who I could talk to if I ever needed any help and that I shouldn't worry about coming to university. When I arrived, I was also very upfront about my illness to new friends. One of the major factors for me was that I cannot drink very much with the drugs I am on, so it was a pretty easy to thing to slip into conversation. I found that telling people in a straightforward way allowed them to feel they could ask me questions if they wanted to better understand how it affects me, and now they know, it's less of a mystery when I can't always do things.

Find good friends (or let them find you).

I mentioned before that being open about your illness (I find) is important because it allows your friends to understand that if you're not feeling well, you're probably really not feeling well. And, well, if they don't understand then they really are not worth your time. I've been pretty damn lucky with the friends I've made here because they're really understanding when I'm unwell. Instead of pressuring me to go out, they come over to my flat for a cup of tea instead. Ent that lovely? I really do appreciate it more than I think they realise. 

Don't overdo it.

Right, this is probably the shittest one. You might have friends who go on a five day bender and honestly? You're probably not gonna be able to keep up, and if you do, you'll probably end up paying for it for a long, long time afterwards. But then again, that is me speaking from personal experience and knowing that my body wouldn't be able to cope with that. Listen to your body. That is one of the most important things. If you're feeling really well and up to going out and then straight to your 9am lecture, screw it; go for it! But if you are a bit under the weather, it's not worth tiring yourself out and making yourself feel worse. There will be plenty of other times and like I mentioned before, if you make great mates, they'll understand.

I think I rambled on a little more than I meant to there but hey, ho. There's my advice for going to university with an ongoing health problem. It is possible and it is bloody worth it. Stay happy!

xxx