I recently transferred from community college to UVA to major in biochemistry. Ever since I started taking chem and bio I loved it. I didn't realize the math that was required though and I am really bad at math under pressure. Tis a long story, but to cut it short, I did not go to high school due to my parents religious background. I was "homeschooled" but not really. Now I feel as though I don't have enough time to catch up in math to do successfully in phys and calc and it feels like I am SUFFOCATING. I have other classes I need to focus on as well but constantly in the back of my mind I am feeling so overwhelmed thinking of my math classes. Despite dedicating a ton of time to the subjects, I am still really slow and forgetful of the problem solving skills I need to succeed because of how short of time I am trying to learn some things, and I've already determined in my head that I will fail at least one of these math courses. For awhile now, I really put all of my self worth into my academics, and I am realizing now that I may fail. So on top of the incredible and uncontrollable anxiety that I have over trying to do well, I am now falling into the fear of "I would be worthless without this education so I can't afford to fail", and it's honestly bringing me into feeling really sad and depressed. As much as I need to study (more than anybody in my math classes, I am sure of it), I can't even focus half the time because my anxiety is so extreme I will literally read a page of text and not know what I read because my mind is in over drive of "learn this material asap". Lastly, I cannot get decent sleep or get an appetite so physically I feel horrible every day. I just sent a panic email to my advisor, too. I don't know how to manage this and I am looking for some help.
Hi firstly can you find out if you can get more tuition for maths to see if it will help your confidence.Education is important however if your mental health is suffering you have to think about perhaps looking at the course you are doing with a view to perhaps changing to another course.As you have been home schooled perhaps you are finding the fact you are with other students and comparing your abilities to theirs is overwhelming you.Trust me you don't know if they are struggling or not.Speak to your advisor and see if they can get you more support.
First of all you need to slow down and catch your breath. Nobody can think well when they are under intense stress and anxiety.
you need to calm down your mind. Do some slow long deep breathing. You can find some great meditations for this as well as for anxiety on YouTube. They really helped me.
you already have it in your mind that you won't do well at the math. That is just a thought which is very negative in your mind. You need to turn that around. That concept is not based on reality because the future is not here yet. I know you have struggled with math but that does not mean you won't be able to pass it in the future. My kids were way behind in math when they moved to another state and with a little help from a tutor, they were able to catch up and are doing well now. They always struggled with math in the past. Is there anyway you can get a tutor for math? Sometimes other students do that. Just tell yourself you will do anything it takes to do what you need to do. You need to stay positive but not anxious ?
another YouTube video is called clearing subconscious negativity.
why does this have to be done right away? What I'm saying is what is the problem if you take just a little longer to finish what you need to do?
Your self worth is not determined by your academics! You ready have self-worth whether you're in academics or not. Just by being alive and a beautiful human being, your self-worth is already in place! Academics is just the icing on the cake. And so is wealth, material things etc. none of which are more worthy than yourself as a human being.
you need to release the negativity about yourself. Your a special unique person and you can do this without all the anxiety., Even if it takes a little longer that's perfectly fine! You will get there when the time is right for you.
so, speak with your counselor, listen to great meditations on YouTube for anxiety, depression, breathing with anxiety, panic, or whatever you want.
do things at your own pace even if it takes a little longer.
don't be so hard on yourself. Be good to yourself. You deserve it. And don't forget to smile and laugh and don't take life too seriously!
I am telling you all of this as a person who is in my 50s and have been through all of this in the past. I was the most anxious fearful person and I wasted over 20 years of my life when I could've been enjoying it. I also thought I had to rush through school but honestly, it didn't matter whether I graduated right on time or a few years later. The important thing is your peace of mind and health!!!!!!
nothing is worth ruining your health over.
You'll be great! ❤️😁
I know how you feel I am now a Pensioner and I still have memories of Practical Mathemaics, with Electrical Engineering , Engineering Drawing and Marine Electronics and Radio.
I lost a year at school and was pushed down to a Secondary Education, at that time Sciences were not taken until fourth year and then in my fifth, then took my examinations. I had lost a year there with the Sciences and decided to go to Marine Engineering College, I just did not have the education to keep up with the instruction as all subjects contained a massive amount of Sciences and Mathematice, we took grouped certificates four times a year and we had to pass all as a grouped certificate, if we failed one paper we had to take the whole course again all was one big catch up. I flunked the year of later certificates and took a job as an Engineer, back to college and You never learn. However I managed to eventually sort out my qualifications and moved on.
The strangest thing I started attending Uni for Youth and Community Work and passed welll, I was then qualified to be a Part Time Youth Leader and I did that for quite a long time. I was still working as an Engineer.
Looking back I should not have done my Sciences and just done Social Work and Voluntary work with the NHS. That was my real love, I feel I was trying to impress my Mam and Dad, that was one big error I needed to follow my dream not theirs.
You could try and take A Level Maths, then Maths to ONC that may help you reach the level you need. I felt if I had gone to Grammar I would have been better prepared.
BOB