Letter from my doctor
 

I asked for a letter from my doctor to give to my college so that they might give me extensions on the assignments that are due.

She wrote:

I am writing to let you know that this 24 year old gentlemen recently registered with our practise. He has a past history of depression and self-harming and is currently under the care of a CPN whom he sees twice a month and is awaiting to see a psychiatrist in our area.

I understand William has recently enrolled on a course since moving to this area and is having some difficulties with the pressure of the work involved. He is well motivated, compliant with medication and is hoping to be able to carry on with the college course but I woncer whether he could be given some leeway with regard to the time-scales for his work due to his associated mental health problems.

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I took it to the Assessments office, hoping that they would forward the information to my tutors, but I was told that I had to actually present it to them myself: that I had to explain it to each of my tutors. I am bothered by this, as the letter is quite explicit and I don't particularly want any of them to know about my personal medical history!

What should I do? Any suggestions?

Love, always, WJB.

hey there
i unfortunately dont have anything profound or particularly useful at the moment
but my best friend, who was diagnosed bipolar, had a similar situation when we were in college
she got some really good results and her professors let her finish assignments from home and have extended time, but she did go talk to each of them personally
i think that is the best course because unfortunately a lot of people try to get extra time and all that when they really dont need it so i would expect that your professors would need to hear it from you so that they know you are being sincere
good luck - it's really awkward and hard i am sure but you seem motivated and you can do it
xxxooo

If you explain to each of your tutors, it can help you because you are using your words for how your illness effects you, not your doctors. Yes, his note is clear and explicit, but communication in person is always good. They also need to know how much support you need, how much extra time to give you.

Can you let your head tutor know? Or head of year? I had to do that and she just let people know that leeway had to be given to me obviously she knew but noone else did and it was all ok - I just had to go to her when I needed an extension and one was given. Goodluck

Oh tough, tough, tough. Doesn't seem fair that they should ask that of you...you'd think they'd perhaps be sensitive about the matter. I wonder if folks ever consider what it would be like to be in our shoes...to have to fess up to not being 'normal'...
Sorry hun, I wish I had some good advice...maybe you could go over their heads? The department head? Dean???

Good luck and much love

Alyssa