struggling with dread when doing uni everyday

Guest_07705316 — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:40:25 GMT

I have anxiety, depression and agoraphobia that I’ve been dealing with since I was 19. I only started seeing a therapist now (I’m 26) but this has affected all aspects of my life since I’ve never had a passion. I did get a Bachelor’s in a random field just to appease my parents but have never worked and now can’t work even though I want to.

So I decided to get a Master’s in Speech Pathology for a stable profession and since there are lots of opportunities…but I underestimated how intense the content, clinical expectations and assignments are and now I’m having breakdowns everyday, can’t sleep, can’t eat and dread waking up in the morning because I don’t want to do this anymore. I want to push through because if I drop out…well I’ll just go back to being a bum. I have no other career alternative/option if I do quit. This was the one thing me and my family were banking on.

Does anyone know what to do? Everyone around me tells me to keep pushing cos I’m only in week 2.

Re: struggling with dread when doing uni everyday

Croix — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 16:59:41 GMT

Dear New Member~

I'd like to welcome you here and admire the fact you got a degree despite anxiety, depression and agoraphobia. I'm glad you are now seeking assistance as I'm sure it will make a significant difference to your life. My anxiety and depression did respond to treatment and I now live a much easier, able and more enjoyable life.

As someone who taught at uni for many years I'd always emphasize in the first week of any unit all the hardships and difficulties. I admit I always laid it on thick so students would not slack off for the first half and then panic because 7 weeks work needed to be used during the mid-semester break.

In truth the work was not that bad, and even for a masters an ordinary person who applied themsleves tended to do OK.

I would suggest you consider staying on, though you are the best judge of that.

If you do stay you may find, as many have, being in a study group or having a study mate helps a lot, both with timing (i.e. mapping out when things have to be started and finished) and understanding the material. Discussion and fellowship both help.

Remember that you are after a pass, not an HD, so do not think everything has to be perfect.

Do not hesitate to ask your lecturer/tutor if there is something that you cannot understand. All unis want their students to pass and staff do try to be helpful, often going to great lengths.

I remember one student whose cat died on two different occasions just before an assignment was due during two semesters (apparently the same cat:), I accepted the excuse for each late assignment and tried to keep a straight face. Better to let her try and getting marks rather than just getting none.

If you have a note for your clinician and go and see the uni counseling service as a disabled or chronically ill student you may find them helpful if you need more time for an assignment or similar matters.

The only real thing I might say that could be regarded as pushing you is the way you refer to yourself as 'a bum'. You are wrong! Nobody who has graduated, with you problems, is anything other than a praiseworthy person who has ability and perseveres in adversity. That is more than many can say. If you withdraw (hopefully before the cut off date) then how will you think of yourself?

If you continue and your symptoms become unmanageable then it is they, not you, that brought things to a close with no fault of your own.

If you pass how will you feel?

You may surprise yourself in actually enjoying parts of the course.

Please feel free to keep on talkng with us, whatever you decide you will be understood for you decision

Croix

topic struggling with dread when doing uni everyday in Anxiety

struggling with dread when doing uni everyday

Re: struggling with dread when doing uni everyday