HSC anxiety

Guest_9546 · ‎09-07-2017

Hello

I do not know if anyone can relate to me or not but I have "educational anxiety" for maybe the past year and 8 months?

So I wasnt allowed to do my desired subject in year 11 (in year 10 I chose extension 1 maths but wasnt allowed)

At the beginning of yr 11 I was told I wasn't allowed to do extension 1 maths. I started to stress because I wasn't told about it earlier and I wanted to do it desperately

I complained to the head of maths (on many occassions) and he then decided to make me sit a test weeks later

Weeks later I did the test and I stuffed it up. I wasn't allowed to do extension 1 maths. I was stressing and tried complaining multiple times to the head of maths. He decided no. He then referred me to the school counciller. He told me this "rubbish" that I only need advanced maths (2U) for uni since it is a calculus course but I felt I needed extension 1 maths

The counciller told me to let it go (and so did he). I tried to let it go but it didn't work. It was then raised to my school principal (through a complaint to the department of education) and he told me to just focus on all my other subjects because extension 1 maths will make things worse (but I thought of it the other way around)

Ever since that incident, I was stressing everyday. I had anxiety (and still do). I have found it very difficult to learn. Did horribly in tests
At the end of last yr, I told the HT maths that I dont care about learning anymore (since he didn't let me in extension maths earleir in the year).

Ever since then I learned to develop a deep obsession of hatred to him (because I think he's ignorant)Even now (which was a year a and half from that incident of not being allowed to study my desired subject) I have suffered anxiety a lot, I have been so stressed out that it has affected my learning, I have developed a deep hatred to the head of maths, etc. I have even cried a lot at home at times because I was too stressed out. Even back then I found a bit of difficulty sleeping

Assuming I have either narcissism, bipolar disorder or some sort of sever anxiety ] I want to apply for EAS (educational access scheme) for my HSC because my learning was affected from this event a lot

I wanted to do extension 1 (and 2) maths at high school because I wanted to pursue an actuarial degree at university (or a maths degree of some sort) as nothing else interested me but not being allowed to do my desired subjects made me stress

I would appreciate any advice from anyone here

Hope_for_the_best · ‎19-09-2017

I don't know whether it matters much if you still share your medicare card with parents after turning 18. For that, you need to check with a medicare centre. I would suggest that your older brother and you go and order a new medicare card as soon as you can. You need to bring your mum's current medicare card though to order a new card. Since you are already 18 or above, you are considered an adult and you don't need to get your mum's approval to see a doctor. If your mum is not happy to hand over her medicare card, can you ask your brother for help? Maybe start off with borrowing her card to order for a new card without mentioning seeing a doctor. I doubt she will decline your brother and you ordering new cards. From my memory, medicare people will give you a letter with your new card details so you can still make claims while you are waiting for your new card to arrive. This way if your clinic happens to need your medicare number to book an appointment, you can see get through that.

Guest_9546 · ‎20-09-2017

So I have asked my principal whether or not I need my medicare card or medicare number and he tells me I will need my medicare number as the card isn't necessary (as long as I have my personal details). All I need to do now is get the medicare number from my mum and write the number down

When going to a doctor for a mental health assessment what sort of tests they do on you? Physical test (such as checking blood pressure) or something like a brain scan. I am starting to be really anxious about this because I've never been to a doctor before for a mental examination

I am planning on going tomorrow as I have no intentions of attending high school graduation

startingnew · ‎20-09-2017

hi tenebrosity

ive been following this thread but havent had much to contribute so took a step back.

i not long ago had a mental health assessment done. the only physical they performed on me was a blood tests to check if there were possible defiencienies or thyryoid issues that were contributing towards the way i was feeling. other than that it was just questions about how youve been feeling and your thoughts and emotional stuff nothing physical

Guest_9546 · ‎20-09-2017

Hi StartingNew

It doesn't matter as now the conversation has started to kinda change a bit (I think) from getting stressed (angry and anxious?) about not being in extension maths and the impact on my learning, to getting worried about going to tafe, to being depressed, now to have a fear of reliving "traumatic high school memories" and getting worried about going to the doctors, etc

I remember going to the doctors earlier in the year (for consistent coughing which worsened at night) and he couldn't see any severe symptoms such as fever, etc so he diagnosed (I am not sure if "diagnose" is the right word in this context) me with dry cough. I remember he put some arm wrap thing around my arm but I think he was trying to check the pulse?

I have done multiple online tests on "do I have depression", "do I have anxiety", etc and it seems according to those quizzes I do have a mental illness/disorder which I will show to my GP (but I don't know whether or not he is aware of the sites I use, I use more than one site when trying to figure out what disorder I have because that way it's more reliable)

My main concern now is that when I go to the doctors, he might say something like "you don't seem to be diagnosed with XYZ" because your blood pressure/most parts of your body seems normal however it's my mindset that isn't normal (again I need to confirm).

Although he may ask "how are you feeling" or "how often are you stressing", etc I'm sure he would need to do some actual physical test of some sort to confirm I have "XYZ", isn't that true?

Hope_for_the_best · ‎20-09-2017

I don't think your doctor can say "You don't seem to be diagnosed with something" until he has done some tests, be it physical test or mental illness questionnaire. If you are worried that your doctor may be dismissive, I would suggest that you start by telling him that you are stressed out for your HSC, and you think you may have a mental health disorder according to some online questionnaires. I think any doctors would agree that HSC is stressful, and your doctor should take on what you describe.

Since you have seen him before, he should have some ideas of your physical health. He may order a blood test to rule out some physical illnesses (depending on what symptoms you have), but other than that he should give you a questionnaire to fill in and decide if you indeed have a mental health disorder.

Guest_9546 · ‎20-09-2017

Ok I won't show him this post but I think I'll say something like I am stress and crazy because of past experiences (I feel I do have my own personal issues outside the context of schooling and HSC and this involves things such as getting angry at my extended family about how they live their lives, when people insult me or something I'd usually spend the whole day thinking about it, being obsessive about certain things, etc). I will probably say I am stressed out because of HSC and then when speaking to a psychologist explain further about this situation

I don't think I've ever had a blood test before (I am actually serious about this) so I don't know what it will be like when I take the blood test. What are blood tests like, do they usually inject a needle into your veins or what? I am starting to get scared of blood tests because of the fear they hurt

I'm worried he'll say something like "your blood seems normal" therefore you show no symptoms of "XYZ". When doing a medical examination for mental illness does the GP look more your physical symptoms or questionaires?

If I remember correctly he had a son who is in the same year group as me (I got this through my mum) so I think he should have some sort of idea of how stressful the HSC is through the perspective of his son

I am so upset by the fact that the school counciller didn't give me a "proper and reasonable" response, she didn't even say "I don't think I can solve this, you should see a doctor for a medical examination for diagnosis" etc. I only found this out through my principal and careers advisor after showing them this thread I had made. I cannot get over the advice that the school counciller gave me

Hope_for_the_best · ‎20-09-2017

It is good that your GP has a son of your age, so I agree that he has more ideas what you are going through. Let me clarify one thing though, a blood test cannot diagnose mental illnesses. The purpose is to rule out any physical problems you may have. If you blood test is normal, then whatever you experience are likely mental. For the blood test, a phlebotomist inserts a needle into a vein of your arm and then draw some blood. In my opinion, it is not more hurtful than getting a vaccination. If you are scared, let the phlebotomist know. He/she must have come across a lot of patients who are scared of blood tests. My dad is someone who faints easily during blood tests. He informs the phlebotomist every time he needs to have his blood taken. Every phlebotomist he met is very understanding. They have him lying down on a bed and draw his blood very slowly. They even help him up afterwards and ask him to rest a bit to ensure he is okay. So don't feel embarrassed to let the phlebotomist know that it is your first blood test and you are scared.

Guest_9546 · ‎20-09-2017

But isn't mental illness and physical illness connected in some sense? (such as sleeping less, losing weight, having a faster heartbeat, etc)

Is a phlebotomist the same thing as a local GP? I hate vaccinations as the pain remains in my arms for the rest of the day until I go to sleep and wake up the next day I do not feel the pain anymore. I'm worried it will be the same as a blood test

Hope_for_the_best · ‎21-09-2017

Yes it is, but there are criteria to diagnose physical and mental illnesses. Your GP will figure that out.

A phlebotomist is not the same as a GP. If your GP needs you to have a blood test, he will give you a form and you will present it to the phlebotomist to have your blood drawn. Normally, phlebotomists are on spot in the clinic, but you may need to wait a bit if there is a queue. I am not the type of person who is afraid of vaccinations or blood tests, so I cannot comment which one causes more pain. If you are super worried about pain, let the phlebotomist know. You may also go to the pharmacy and buy some cream that numbs your skin before having your blood taken.

Guest_9546 · ‎21-09-2017

So if I go to the doctors it will just be a mental illness questionnaire? Not a blood test?