University panic

[belle4]

Hi,

For the first time in my university life I have to make a presentation, a proper slide show presentation (with someone else) and well, I can't. I have a stress sensitive inflammatory disease, i have already been admitted to hospital 4 times this year with various infections and illnesses. I finished a huge piece of research in July, spent most of August in hospital and had to have surgery to remove part of one of my major organs.


I have done presentations in the past and i feel like im choking, i cant breathe, i speak too fast and people look at me sympathetically. I don't want to go through with that ever again.

If i email my module lecturer, explaining the situation, do you think that maybe he will allow me to skip the presentation aspect and do the write up instead?

[lior]

Hey belle

That stuff is serious, and I'm sure if you explain that then he will allow you to skip the presentation, as long as he takes it seriously. Does the university already know about your condition?

With cases like dyslexia they have to make adjustments. When I was depressed I got set alternative assignments at uni so I didn't have to do work that would make me depressed (some of it was against my ethics).

If the university already knows about your condition, it will be harder for this one lecturer to turn you down. However, I have heard of cases where uninformed lecturers don't make allowances for students with disabilities. You have to educate them. (Ironically.) You have to make it really clear why you can't do it and the effects it might have.


Now, having said all that, presentations are a life skill. University is a safer environment for learning than in the workplace. It's better to make mistakes and fail at uni, than to fail at work. If you fail at work, there's sometimes a possibility of losing your job. Not always, but sometimes. Uni is the ideal place to practice things you aren't good at.

Are you never ever going to do a presentation again, or can you treat this one as a practice for the future? It's ok if you mess it up. It's ok if people look at you sympathetically.

My friend has anxiety and she messed up at a public speaking event, but nobody remembered. I got her to do some public speaking at an event I organised a couple of weeks ago and this time she was everyone's favourite. She was still scared before but she nailed it when she was up there. It is possible to make progress with things you are terrified of.

I know you'll do the right thing for you, whichever way you choose.

Good luck and keep us updated!
Lior

PS I have been to 3 universities and help my severely dyslexic mum through her university experience, so if you have any university related questions, let me know.

[LiziJenks]

Hi Lior,

Sorry to hear about your problems but don't worry. I have just finished 3 years at uni and I also hated doing presentations! Fortunately I had a great support system at uni and they put things in place so that if I felt I couldn't do it I didn't have to and also if I felt I could try the presentation it was made aware to the teacher about my anxiety and that I was to be marked on the content rather than the deliverance. My advice to you would be to speak to your university learning support or the alternative in your university and get some help. They are there to make your university experience as enjoyable as possible and understand what you are going through! If you really feel like you can't do the presentation don't worry, im sure your lecturer will understand, you could perhaps suggest delivering your presentation to a smaller group rather than the whole class?

Hope this helps and good luck!
xxx

[graham58]

Hi,

For the first time in my university life I have to make a presentation, a proper slide show presentation (with someone else) and well, I can't. I have a stress sensitive inflammatory disease, i have already been admitted to hospital 4 times this year with various infections and illnesses. I finished a huge piece of research in July, spent most of August in hospital and had to have surgery to remove part of one of my major organs.

I have done presentations in the past and i feel like im choking, i cant breathe, i speak too fast and people look at me sympathetically. I don't want to go through with that ever again.

If i email my module lecturer, explaining the situation, do you think that maybe he will allow me to skip the presentation aspect and do the write up instead?

My first thought on reading that is that you need a doctor's letter to take to your personal tutor, and that if he or she won't take your concerns seriously (and most will these days), you need another tutor.

You're still recovering from surgery, and you need to take things gently and not jump any hurdles on the way.

[lior]

Lizi you meant Belle right? Not me!

[mikewales]

Definitely speak to your tutor, and also student services at the Uni. They are normally very good in helping people with specific needs ( it is quite commn, so not something unusual for them ).

Your tutor may arrange for you to just do the presentation informally to him rather than in front of lots of other people, or for the other person to do the presentation so you don't need to do any speaking. Possibly you could even do it on your own and video it instead ?

I had anxiety and panic attack problems when doing my final exams and the Uni were great in offering me alternatives like a private room to do them so I could take time out if I needed to, and also re scheduling exams if the hospital appointments I had clashed with any of them.

[jonjones]

Hi Belle,

Im sorry to hear about your problem!

I can totally relate. I used to be the same when I wa sin university. I absolutely dreaded presentations. I would get so tense and nervous.

However I always made it through. I practised Claire Weekes method of facing, accepting, floating and letting time pass.

I just gave up trying to fight the anxiety and nervousness and thought ¨oh well f$%k it!¨ :) ¨If I fall apart I fall apart. If I get nervous I get nervous!¨

And I instead focused on taking deep breaths, letting my body sag, and floating.

I have now reached the stage where last year I gave a wedding speech in fornt of around 80 people. And regularly teach classes of more than 15 students.

Have faith you can get more confidence and get over this!

Jon

[Josh21]

I can't say for sure if the Uni will allow you not to take the presentation but when I was at uni we had one girl who was agoraphobic I believe and other conditions which allowed her not to take part in presentations or go on field trips as she couldnt travel.

I'm sure if you went to your tutor they will be able to sort something out and probably asses you a different way.

[LiziJenks]

Lizi you meant Belle right? Not me!


Yes I meant belle :) xx

[yenool]

If you have a long standing illness, physical or mental, it is most likely classed as a disability and therefore the university does have a duty to make 'reasonable adjustments' in order to accommodate your needs. However that doesn't exempt you from having to meet the mandatory learning requirements to pass a module. But there are ways and ways.... maybe giving the 'presentation' to just one tutor rather than the whole class, or sitting down and talking through the work rather than standing up formally, etc.

Have you previously declared your health problems to the university ? (this is usually done at the health and well being or disability offices or to a welfare tutor). If so this would put you in a stronger position as they should be able to communicate with your department tutors on your behalf. Also, have you applied for disabled students allowance (DSA)? You really should do if you have a chronic illness, physical or mental. - You may be entitled to extra support, extra time for assignments and exams, study skills support, mentoring, specialist equipment and so on depending on your particular needs.

In the short term if you don't want to go down that route then you could perhaps go to your GP, explain the severity of your problem (they presumably have a record of your previous health issues anyway) and ask if they can give you something medically to help get through the presentation, like propranolol or diazepam.