Petition Letter
Dear Associate Dean (Studies),
I am appealing the faculties decision that I must withdraw from Queens for a minimum of one year. As stated in the letter from Dr. Chamberlain attached to this appeal I suffer from severe anxiety that also led to depression earlier this year. In early March I went to talk to an academic advisor as I realized I would not be able to study for exams at all in the state I was in, and she suggested seeking the help of a doctor. Failing that, she suggested I email my teachers for an incomplete designation so that I might recover and then be able to complete my course work. The following week I went to Toronto to seek help and ended up being prescribed anti-depressants. Prior to being prescribed the medications I spent almost all of my time inside my room, barely even coming out to eat. I lost over 15 pounds over the course of one month as I was not eating, and i could not focus on anything, let alone my studies. After being prescribed the medication the only immediate effects were the side effects, which included nausea and a general feeling of uneasiness. As I was told that it would take 4-6 weeks for the drugs to take full effect, and for the initial side effects to subside, I followed up being emailing my professors asking for an incomplete designation and explaining the circumstances. Of my five professors, one was helpful and granted the incomplete, two initially got back to me but never followed up afterwards, and the remaining two did not respond to me at all. All email correspondence at this time was down through my queensu email account. More recently the depression has mostly subsided and I am still in meetings with Dr. Chamberlain, although as of last week he prescribed me with an anti-anxiety medication as opposed to the depression, and is working with me to adjust the dose over this summer to get the desired effect. By the time that the summer ends I will have been on the medication for around eleven weeks and should be close to hitting the sweet spot in the dosage. I believe that with the help of Dr. Chamberlain as well as finally doing something about my anxiety issues, should my appeal be granted, I would be able to be the successful student that I know I am capable of being.
I am appealing the faculties decision that I must withdraw from Queens for a minimum of one year. As stated in the letter from Dr. Chamberlain attached to this appeal I suffer from severe anxiety that also led to depression earlier this year. In early March I went to talk to an academic advisor as I realized I would not be able to study for exams at all in the state I was in, and she suggested seeking the help of a doctor. Failing that, she suggested I email my teachers for an incomplete designation so that I might recover and then be able to complete my course work. The following week I went to Toronto to seek help and ended up being prescribed anti-depressants. Prior to being prescribed the medications I spent almost all of my time inside my room, barely even coming out to eat. I lost over 15 pounds over the course of one month as I was not eating, and i could not focus on anything, let alone my studies. After being prescribed the medication the only immediate effects were the side effects, which included nausea and a general feeling of uneasiness. As I was told that it would take 4-6 weeks for the drugs to take full effect, and for the initial side effects to subside, I followed up being emailing my professors asking for an incomplete designation and explaining the circumstances. Of my five professors, one was helpful and granted the incomplete, two initially got back to me but never followed up afterwards, and the remaining two did not respond to me at all. All email correspondence at this time was down through my queensu email account. More recently the depression has mostly subsided and I am still in meetings with Dr. Chamberlain, although as of last week he prescribed me with an anti-anxiety medication as opposed to the depression, and is working with me to adjust the dose over this summer to get the desired effect. By the time that the summer ends I will have been on the medication for around eleven weeks and should be close to hitting the sweet spot in the dosage. I believe that with the help of Dr. Chamberlain as well as finally doing something about my anxiety issues, should my appeal be granted, I would be able to be the successful student that I know I am capable of being.