Petition Letter
I am writing to request an extension of time to entertain an appeal to drop final grades pertaining to six courses I have taken over the past four years. The courses are ANAT 215, BIOL 201, BIOL 202, BIOL 205 and BIOL 206. The extenuating circumstances that have been out of my control pertain to serious and longstanding mental health issues which have only recently been diagnosed and a treatment regime commenced. I have commenced treatment for severe General Anxiety Disorder and Depression. I am currently under the care of Dr. Mary Ross, a registered psychologist in Vancouver and am in the process of obtaining a referral to Dr. Diane MacIntosh, a psychiatrist, also in Vancouver who will begin a medication protocol. I have asked Dr. Ross to provide the university with a letter containing a diagnosis of my conditions, treatment recommendations and prognosis. As I will briefly describe below, in the 8 weeks since I have been under the care of Dr. Ross I have begun to develop insights into my condition and have begun the difficult process of disclosing to my parents what my psychological state has been like over the past four years. The year before I entered first year at Queen¿¿s I had been diagnosed with cluster headaches. These are the most severe type of headache in terms of pain and come in clusters. They leave me completely enervated. Upon admission to Queen¿¿s I sought and received academic concessions as a result of this condition being recognized by the university. At that time I submitted a letter from my treating neurologist. I enclose a copy of the letter from Dr. Spacey. However, even earlier in my high school years I began experiencing what I have now learned is severe anxiety which in turn contributed to depression. I gradually began to become socially isolated and isolated from my parents insofar as I did not share any of the symptoms that were affecting me with increasingly grave consequences. As my time at university went by, even being able to approach an instructor to catch up on a missed class or lab due to the onset of cluster headaches became an insurmountable task. I became so overwhelmed with the idea of letting down my guard and sharing my panic that I simply withdrew from engagement with my teachers. This in turn heightened my anxiety which led me to withdraw even more from my academic responsibilities. I even found it less stressful to disengage from friends I have had since childhood because I saw no point in socializing due to my near-constant state of anxiety. If this extension is granted and my academic record is reviewed you will see examples of courses which I am now seeking to drop where I was doing well in the coursework and tests but was so overwhelmed with anxiety that I could not bring myself to attend the final examination notwithstanding the fact that I had studied long hours. These failures on my part then further fuelled my anxiety and led to increased depression. I am able to describe the process to you now thanks to the help I am receiving from Dr. Ross. With her encouragement and assistance I have disclosed my condition to my parents who have been extremely supportive and relieved that the process of observing me shut down to the outside world is now in the process of being reversed. For the first time in several years I am able to conceive of a future where I will have tools to confront my anxiety and move forward as the intelligent and successful person I know I am capable of being. It is essential that the care being provided by Dr. Ross continue and that I commence seeing Dr. MacIntosh. I have also, in the process of coming to terms with my condition, come to realize that living with my parents presently is a strongly positive factor in my becoming emotionally healthier. If the extension is granted and my appeal is allowed my GPA will be sufficiently high to permit me to take perhaps two courses by distance learning thereby enabling me to receive treatment and to maintain a sense of self as a student which is extremely important to me. I am unable to foretell the future but it is my sincere hope and belief that with the current plan for treatment and continuing to study online that I will be in a strong position to return to full time studies next year. If I had had any insights into what was causing my academic problems and problems with functioning I would have immediately taken steps to embark on the course of treatment in which I am now engaged.