Dear Lorna,

I know things feel really confused and messed up right now, but I wanted to let you know you are going to be okay and things will get better.

University seemed fun at first, but now things seem to be so much harder, right? Balancing friendships and studying is suddenly much more effort. It feels like you’re just keeping your head above water with your studies, and maintaining friendships with your housemates feels almost impossible right now. It feels like everyone else is doing it all so effortlessly whilst you feel like you’re running through quicksand trying to keep up.

But I want to tell you it is okay to not be okay right now. It doesn’t make you a failure or weak. It is okay not to be happy at university, not to be enjoying it anymore – it’s a really difficult time; you’re away from your family, friends, and all you’ve ever known and the pressure to succeed is very real. It’s completely normal to struggle and I promise you, you are absolutely not the only person who feels like this, even if on the surface others seem to be having the time of their lives.

I know you feel alone right now; you think your friends don’t like you very much and wish weren’t around but believe me, they care and they are worried, they just don’t know how to help or what to say.

I know you feel like nothing is wrong, like you’re just tired and these feelings will go away but they won’t. It’s time to ask for some help. I know you’re scared to,and that in the past when you have tried to people have dismissed you, or even blamed you, but you can’t carry on like this. You need to admit to yourself you need some help, like we all do from time to time. In fact, it’s only once you start to admit that you need help things are going to start getting better. It’s scary, and it’s hard to find the words to explain the fogginess in your head, but it is so important to try.

No one is going to think of you as a failure. Taking time out of your studies is not the end of the world, even if it feels like it. Your health is always the most important thing in the world, and a degree is not worth sacraficing it over. You will go back to university when you’re ready, and you will get your degree.

You have a long road to recovery ahead of you, and it’s not going to be easy. But I wholeheartedly promise you it will be worth it.

Stay strong

Lorna

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