Petition Letter
I am submitting an appeal requesting to waive the one-term appeal deadline for dropping the following courses past the last official date for dropping classes: PHYS P20 (2017 Winter), CHEM 112B (2016 Winter), CHEM 281 (2016 Summer), and WRIT 125 (2016 Fall). I suffer from a generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder. I previously received treatment for these disorders throughout 2014 and 2015. I made the mistake of prematurely stopping treatment prior to the Fall 2016 semester, allowing for relapses of severe anxiety and depression that have had extremely detrimental effects on my academics, social activities, and relationships. One of the most severe triggers of my anxiety is attempting to deal with administrative matters at Queen¿¿s. The very act of accessing the Queen¿¿s appeal webpage is capable of producing such severe anxiety that I become mentally and physically incapacitated. Despite this, I tried on several occasions to start the appeal process online. When doing so, I would become so frustrated and disappointed in my inability to complete an appeal that I would become extremely depressed. I felt worthless and incapable of reaching out for help. As a coping mechanism for the anxiety and depression it caused me, I resorted to completely ignoring the possibility of appealing the courses. I have only recently reinitiated treatment for these disorders with my psychologist, and begun to rebuild my support network, which includes my family and the Queen¿¿s Accessibility Serves. It is only with support from all of these sources that I have been able to begin the appeal process. While it has been very difficult writing this, it is a huge improvement from the crippling anxiety and depression that previously prevented me from doing so.