EXTREME stress

[blissful_maia]

I noticed that this section is mostly devoted to diagnosed mental conditions and/or pharmaceutical drugs, so I don't know if this is the right place to post...

But...

I am having extreme stress. You see, I recently got accepted to a really competitive midwifery program at Laurentian University here in Ontario. Only 10 people are accepted each year, and you can't defer your admission. Well, I'm trying to finish up some courses, but have had medical problems in the last little while and have fallen behind.

I am having a SUPER hard time catching up, and having lack of support from my partner. I need to get 70s in these classes to keep my offer of admission. I thought I knew what stress was before, until now. I have hysterical crying fits a few times a day and even threw up while working in the library yesterday.

Midwifery is my life calling, and I wouldn't have been accepted had the universe not wanted me to go this year. PLEASE HELP me get through this.

Any help is well appreciated.

Namaste

[Danielsmom]

Hi,
The midwifery program sounds fascinating.
I'm trying to think of advice/help that won't sound trite.
I could offer my own perspective. I taught at a local university a few years back and initially had anxiety attacks/self-doubt, etc. It was very difficult but I made it through the semester and actually wound up getting good evaluations from the students. (This is a goofy way of saying that in spite of my feelings of anxiety, I was able to do a decent job, and you can too).

Just do the best you can, one day at a time or even one hour at a time. It does sound like you have a lot on your plate. Are you getting enough sleep? Any sleep? Eating? Try to take care of yourself, too.

[jmreinke]

I'm sorry. I don't really have any great words of advice, but I did want to offer you a

[Shantimama]

Congratulations on being accepted into that program - I hear it is excellent.

I went through a long stretch of extreme stress last year. I am still feeling the effects of it. All you can do is to do what you can to get through each day, each hour. it is so stressful to have so much on your plate.

These suggestions won't make the work any easier or any less, but they helped me keep going, especially when it got to be too much - I also had times when I threw up simply from stress. Breathe fully and deeply whenever you remember to. If you have even 15 minutes in the early morning, go for a brisk walk, really pumping your legs and feeling your strength. Notice the sky, the trees, the light, whatever helps you rememebr taht your life is bigger than the stress. Eat and drink healthy things as much as possible. Take extra vitamins because your body probably isn't digesting as well as usual.

Hang in there. I really wasn't sure I would survive the stress but I did. Think of where you will be a few months from now.