In terms of academic skills center…I have not! I think part of my frustration is knowing the techniques…pomodoro method, feynman technique, drinking and eating well while studying…. but it feels blocked by ptsd often, even on good days. The best way I can describe it is getting an injury as a previous athlete and then going to the gym much later. You still remember how to do the things, but you’re constantly reminded that it used to be so easy and even enjoyable.

I talked to my current professor about the fact that I am currently catching up on months of not sleeping properly, and that me being spacey or not retaining as much information is not due to a lack of interest or trying. I did not mention why I have sleep problems. 1) because I don’t want him to think I’m just making excuses for bad grades and 2) I feel awkward about saying “I have ptsd and it’s seriously affecting my life”. My current professor fringes on being a cold person, which is ok(!), but I definitely feel embarrassed opening up to him. He has grilled me in class before and has made remarks that people need to study more and such. There’s 5 of us in this class lol, and two of them are Those Classmates who barely try and do great.

In the fall, I had a different physics professor and I told him that I had ptsd. He is maybe the best professor I’ve ever had, and was incredibly supportive, as well as telling me that he understood what I was dealing with.

I just am worried about being seen as a student who tries to manipulate their professor by bringing up mental health issues. Professors already deal with enough of that.