IN DEFENSE OF TELLING YOUR PROFESSOR ABOUT YOUR MENTAL ILLNESS

Some people squirm when they hear the words "mental illness." You would think a topic that nearly 1 in 5 Americans personally deal with at some point in their life would be, ummm I don't know, a little less taboo? But, God forbid we have an open discussion about anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder or any other form of mental illness without making someone look visibly uncomfortable.

So, what exactly is the protocol when you have to tell your professor the reason you have missed class nearly once every week (sometimes twice) is because your anxiety leaves you nauseous and panicked?

Last semester I was at a point where I wasn't really sure what to do. In the past, I had the unpleasant experience of expressing my mental illness to a professor, only to be met with a "suck-it-up-this-is-college-the-syllabus-says-you-can-only-miss-class-three-times" response.

Obviously, not helpful. And only increased the dread that loomed over my head.

(Also, this professor had the audacity to say she has dealt with mental illness in the past and understood my situation.... Okay.)

I decided I had one of two options: say something or suffer in silence. So, I said something... well actually I emailed something, because talking face-to-face with people makes me, you guessed it, ANXIOUS.

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Good afternoon Professor, I wanted to reach out and inform you about my absences from class. I have been experiencing severe anxiety to the point where I have panic attacks or become physically nauseated. Certain environments can exacerbate these feelings, and unfortunately the classroom is one of those places for me. Dealing with anxiety is nothing new for me, but some days are naturally worse than others. I have been to the counseling center and have made other professors aware of my situation. If you have any recommendations so I can stay on track, please let me know. I understand this is a personal matter, however I feel you should be aware and know I am not simply "skipping". Thanks, Olivia

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After I sent this, I avoided my email for a solid 48 hours. Knots piled up in my stomach and hypotheticals filled my head.

What if he doesn't email me back? That'll make class on Monday awkward. I suppose I'll just have to drop the class at that point.

What if he asks to see me after class?

What if he writes a proverbial "f*ck you and your problems" masked in messages of best wishes?

All I wanted to do was lie on the floor while watching the rotation of the ceiling fan.

And there it was. 1 new unread message. Cool.

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Hi Olivia,

Thanks for the email. Sorry to hear about your struggles. It sounds like you are taking the right, healthy steps by seeking counseling.

We are closing in on the end of the semester (which means we will have a nice break over the summer to relax a bit). In the meantime, I urge you to do what you can to keep up with the notes. You have been doing well and I would like to see you finish out strong.

Best wishes,

Professor

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I cried.

The response was simple and made me feel human. No, this email didn't cure my anxiety (according to my therapist, I hold the key to that...great), but it sure as hell made me feel like I could breathe a little easier. And that's what I really needed.

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If you are contemplating how to tell your professor about your mental illness, know that you have options. Seeking services through your school health center is a proactive step to take even if you don't feel like you are suffering from mental illness. Sometimes it is good to talk out your problems with someone who has no bias to the situation. Your health center may be able to provide paperwork or relay the information to your professor if you are dealing with troubles.

If not, feel free to use what I have written as a starting point. Let your professors know. You are probably not the first student they have encountered going through a shit time. They want to see you succeed. Best of luck.

#anxiety #mentalillness #college