About

Hello! I'm currently 22 (as of 2017) and starting a Psychology degree with the Open University in Oct 2017. I am a mature and disabled student due to chronic health conditions. I work part time and volunteer online here and there.

Why the Open University?

It feels like the right thing to do because I can continue working and earning whilst investing in my future! Going to a traditional (brick) uni would have caused me to put my life on hold which I didn't want. I am also a home bird and I would have found the move to a campus stressful and I know I would be distracted by the desire to go out and socialise all the time - I want no distractions so I can do my best. 

(2020 Update) So... what's wrong with me?  😅

As I have a habit of keeping things quiet regarding my health conditions (I guess I don't want to be defined as 'sick' as there's more to me than that & I usually manage to push through my health challenges), I've decided to state from the get go what my health conditions are. This is largely so you guys can maybe better understand the things I write about, but also to raise awareness for these conditions.

I have a number of quite common health conditions ,such as asthma, but these conditions don't cause me too many issues with studying, they're just more of an inconvenience that I'm used to managing and the symptoms/issues can be quite easily resolved with treatment/medication.

A few years ago, I was diagnosed with two lesser known conditions:

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTs) - A dysfunction of the autonomic system. You can read more about the condition here. It is secondary/believed to be caused by EDS. I take medication every day to control my heart rate and wear compression socks to keep the blood to my brain! I think this condition contributes most to fatigue and brain fog, largely because my fatigue improved quite a lot after starting medication.
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (Type III / hypermobile) (hEDS) - A rare* connective tissue disorder. Most of my joints are hyper-mobile, but it is a systemic condition that I was born with and causes pain. It explains my hernia as a child, my delay in walking, my dislocation, nerve problems, dental crowding, my IBS and so much more.

_{*It's no longer thought to be rare, just rarely diagnosed/recognised}

Previous qualifications

• 10+ GCSEs (B-C)
• AS Levels
• 180 credit diploma

I have enrolled, my finance and my grant is scheduled and my study materials will be dispatched on the 1st, then I get started in October. I am excited but a little nervous about the stress side of things. Though I am sure I will get through this... somehow.