Hello,

I'm about a year into my recovery and am resuming university in a few days. I don't think I'm up to it... but I'm close to being up to it. I think.

I can't focus that well and, well, mostly it's just severe cognitive fatigue when I have to think or deal with new information. Stress seems to trigger it too.

Does anybody have any tips for this situation? I think I need to be the most efficient student in town to have a good shot.

I heard of something called depth of processing that is supposed to be very important.

Thanks for reading

Depth of processing sounds a bit similar to multi-sensory processing. It may be difficult to use depth of processing techniques but multi-sensory processing is much easier. In multi-sensory processing, you work with the subject matter with visual, auditory and tactile senses. This means, you see the information, hear the information and touch the information. This is part of the reason behind note taking. It takes auditory information and adds tactile processing.

For you, when you are in a lecture, note taking will be important. If you are reading a text, it will help to read any information needing memorization out loud then write it down.

The point is to create multiple memory streams or pathways.

So, the challenge for you is to 'learn how to learn.' Your school's disabilities department may be helpful if you find yourself struggling. Don't be too proud to ask for help there.

My best to you.

You are very brave to go back to college. As the previous poster said, don't be afraid to tap into resources that may be able to assist you through this process. It's my understanding that notetaking services are very helpful. However, you might need a doctor's letter. I'm not sure if this will help, but you might want to consider sitting at the front of the class as there will be less visual/auditory distraction.

After two years, I still don't have the energy to go to class or work fulltime, so the very fact that you are considering this is very encouraging from your recovery standpoint.


Good luck!