There are few things more stressful than being a full-time student pursuing a degree. Whether it’s a bachelor’s degree or a doctorate, there are a variety of obstacles that come with receiving an education.
For example, today, many students pursue their education while working part-time, or even full-time jobs. These are commitments that can leave very little time for an individual to do anything outside of school and work. However, there is also a portion of these individuals who work and go to school, all while managing a chronic illness — many of which can be so physically and emotionally draining that it interferes with their ability to complete their work.
The Stress of a Chronic Condition
Chronic conditions are stressful in and of themselves; they often require regular medical appointments, daily medication, life adjustments, and sometimes even dealing with social stigmas. Add all of this atop 15-credit semesters that require several hours of classes and labs, followed by three hours per in-class hour of studying, and the days don’t seem long enough to take care of yourself and your class responsibilities anymore.
There are a few ways to make the best of your college years while managing a chronic disease; such as talking to your school’s disability office, informing professors of your condition, and communicating with your doctors as much as possible. Depending on your condition, your professors may be required to accommodate your needs and your school’s disability office can help you recognize what reasonable accommodations look like so you can know how much leeway to expect. This might be enough to provide you with sufficiently manageable circumstances to make getting your education possible without concerning levels of stress.
However, there are many chronic conditions that may not qualify for accomodations. Some invisible conditions can become very complicated, especially when they concern areas like chronic pain. College students in particular suffering from chronic pain can easily come across opioids, which can quickly lead to opioid addiction, the leading cause of death in individuals under 50 years old. If your chronic condition involves chronic pain, it’s even more important to let your professors know what you’re going through to avoid feeling extra pressure to seek out opioids.
Finding Healthy Coping Practices
One of the best options for college students suffering from chronic pain is meditation. Although chronic pain can be overwhelming because it can’t always be treated, it’s important to seek out healthy coping methods to deal with the pain. Meditation has been a healing mechanism for thousands of years, as ancient religions and societies used it to put mind over matter. Although chronic pain is real and physical, and can’t simply be willed away, controlling your thoughts away from the frustration and hopelessness that comes with chronic pain can help ease the stress pain places on your mental and emotional health.
If your chronic condition is less about chronic pain and more of an emotional weight on your shoulders, it’s just as important to take care of your emotional health regarding your condition. Some STDs can be considered chronic conditions, and even if they are not causing constant physical harm or pain, the stigma surrounding STDs can cause students to become depressed and unable to focus on their work. Although stigmas can take a large toll on a person’s mental health, it’s important to remember that they’re harmful to uphold and do your best to not let them affect you — instead focus on your classwork, which is what’s truly important.
Another way to help keep your stress levels down is by drinking teas, which offer more benefits than coffee and have been known to help with relaxation. Green and white teas in particular are also known for helping the immune system fight off bacteria, which can help keep students who are stressed, overworked and exhausted from getting sick. Stress often leads to sickness so it’s important that students take measures to keep their immune systems from weakening in order to perform their best in the classroom.
Going to college and earning your degree is going to be stressful no matter what. However, if you take the proper steps to prioritize your physical and mental health, and reduce the symptoms and negative side effects of your chronic condition, you can earn your degree without compromising your health.
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