I am feeling down again. My first year of university has been hard for me. I am really looking for someone I can just chat with, talk about our phobias and try to work through them together. I want someone who fully understands me. My boyfriend does not understand how terrible this fear is, and I want someone who understands it just as much as I do.
I am sorry to hear this. It is tough at Uni.
There is usually a student counselling service that can help you on your return should you wish to approach them. They can refer you for formal counselling .
Have you ever had any CBT ? This is very helpful as it brings you to the here and now.
Either talk to your GP who can arrange some CBT, although if you are at Uni it may be better to talk to the counsellors there as they are better informed when dealing with Students mental health problems.
We are here as well to talk to
BOB
Hi again
I used to work in Student Health as an Occupational Health Adviser at a large university.
In all honesty you do not even need to discuss this with a GP so it can be written down in your medical records and follow you around for ever more. That just gives you something else to worry about.
Being at Uni is stressful . Other students are in the sameboat but may be reluctant to say so for fear of losing face hence making their fellow students feel inadequate.
It will get easier as you progress in your course. There is a lot of uncertainty when a student . This again is very common.
However it will be all right in the end, honestly.
You are an intelligent person and have identified the solution yourself! This shows that you have insight and are able to make clear decisions.
This is good.
IM professional opinion as you yourself have so correctly identified you just need someone to talk to.
There are the Samaritans. Freephone tel 01161234. They do not retain telephone numbers.
You say that your boyfriend does not understand how terrible you feel. There may be a good reason for this!!!!!!
Enteraphobia is more common amongst women than men. The fear of pregnancy/morning sickness is obviously more relevant to us women than to the males.
Sometimes those are close to us may try to pressurise us into doing something that we do not wish to do so we use avoidance techniques to evade certain issues.
The above may be applicable to you or it may not. However sometimes it is still hard for others to understand completely how another feels.
So in conclusion I would suggest reading up about enteraphobia, reading a book on how to deal with it etc.
It is NOT a mental health problem it is very common and with good reason.
I belive that your fear will be gradually overcome or dealt with by seeking self help via talking with the Samaritans. Readingabout coping with it.
The last thing you want and/or need is to take the risk of being branded or labellled with a mental health problem especially athis time of your life .
Being a student is not easy because so much APPEARS to be uncertain. However be assured that all the other students will be feeling exactly the same as you are albeit many will never dream of admitting it
However I would siggest taking advantage of the vacation and reading up on anxiety. I googled enteraphobia and came up with a few links and a book on the subject that appears to be useful..
So try not to worry.
Most people are anxious or fear something or another but that dows not mean they are suffering from a mental health roblem. As you are at Uni and it is your first year then it is hardly surprising thhat you have found it hard. Others will be in the same boat.
I know that to be the case when I was a student at Uni!!!