Going back to uni after two years off sick

[beatingthefirstdaybacknerves]

I came out of uni back in 2019 after suffering a nervous breakdown - I was very unwell, heavily medicated etc . I don’t fully remember leaving which is probably just as well !

I’m feeling happy to go back but I’m so nervous .

Everything is online, over zoom or pre recorded which helps a lot and removes a lot of the anxiety triggers but I am feeling wobbly now .

My first class is tomorrow ...

Even stupid things like I do have to keep my camera off, microphone off, when on Zion tomorrow ... lecturer has explained as much as she can which helps a lot but still finding I’m getting first day back nerves !

It doesn’t help that I’m the only new one too ! - everyone else in that class already knows each other and will have for eighteen months . I’m also older than them I think (30) , so prepared to struggle with that I think ...

How can I calm down a bit? It’s only one hour !!

I find in my online lectures and tutorials I am the sole person with camera on, bar lecturer and everyone else only puts it on when speaking.

Microphones always on mute besides speaking.

It should be fine, prepare to have camera on but mostly we see a PowerPoint full screen and anyone speaking is in a very small box anyway.

You dont have to have your camera on and mike is usually silent unless you want to speak. On ms teams theres a function to "put your hand up" to speak or you can type a msg in the chat bar.

Thank you ! Have only used zoom for one on one stuff before so a big learning curve .

Mostly in Zoom lectures you will be able to have your camera off and on mute until you'd like to say something. Very best of luck OP you can do this!

So I’m not going to be confronted with forty strangers at least 😆 ! Thanks . It’s not until 2pm so plenty of time in the morning to prepare at least.

Definitely mute your microphone unless you’re speaking so you don’t get people asking where the feedback/noise/echo is coming from. You’ll be fine :)

I’m a lecturer. I never expect my students to put their cameras on — there are plenty of good reasons why they might not want to (not just anxiety or shyness but also privacy and their home environment). I usually ask my students to say hello in the first seminar and tell me their interest in the course. After that, they can type comments in the chat or use the “raise hand” button if they want to speak. Everyone stays on mute if they’re not talking.

Good luck!