Managing a Chronic Condition in Graduate School: What to Expect and How to Succeed

The American Psychological Association defines anxiety as an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. Other symptoms include nervousness, restlessness, a sense of doom or panic, sweating, trembling, increased heart rate, hyperventilation, gastrointestinal problems, and insomnia. These physical and emotional responses can make it extremely difficult to focus on studying and completing assignments because so much mental bandwidth is devoted to unproductive and out-of-proportion worry over future events. Furthermore, specific anxiety conditions may present their own unique challenges. For example, tasks such as giving presentations, working with a group, or simply socializing with peers can be especially distressing for students who have social anxiety disorder.

Asthma is a lung condition that causes inflammation and narrowing in the airways, making it difficult to move air in and out. The American Lung Association explains that the condition flares up when the constant baseline swelling present in the airways is worsened by exposure to triggers such as allergens, irritants, or, for some, emotions. When asthma is not well controlled, it can lead to sleep disturbances and severe fatigue, which can seriously interfere with a student’s studies. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, a night of poor sleep could cause one’s ability to learn new things to drop by 40%. Furthermore, in cases of severe asthma attacks, sufferers may require hospitalization, which can lead to missed classes and further academic struggle.

Cancer is a term for diseases that involve abnormal cells that divide out of control and invade nearby tissues, often spreading to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems. There are more than 200 types of cancer that can be classified according to where they begin or the type of cell they initially affect. Unsurprisingly, managing cancer can be extremely challenging for graduate students. On top of missing class for frequent doctor’s appointments, cancer and its common treatments can cause symptoms like fatigue and weakness, nausea, pain, and hair loss. Mental and psychological effects such as “chemo brain” and depression can also present a major impediment for students.

Chronic fatigue syndrome has a wide variety of symptoms, but the Mayo Clinic notes that its main feature is extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months and does not fully improve with rest. Other symptoms include unrefreshing sleep, muscle or joint pain, dizziness, and memory problems. Because mental exercise can inspire the extreme exhaustion characterized by the condition, virtually all intellectual aspects of graduate school can be quite trying for those who are affected. Studying, paying attention in class, taking tests, and completing projects can feel almost impossible. Furthermore, some sufferers also struggle with depression and short-term memory lapses, both of which can also have a profoundly negative effect on academic achievement.

A migraine is not a bad headache; in fact, the Cleveland Clinic explains that a migraine is a neurological disease that affects the brain directly, making it impossible for the sufferer to function in a normal way. The symptoms of migraine that occur at its different stages (there are up to four per migraine) can include visual, sensory, or motor disturbances, nausea, vomiting, and light sensitivity. It is also common for sufferers to experience cognitive dysfunction and brain fog during a migraine. During an attack, which can last from hours to days, the intense pain coupled with any of these additional symptoms can simply bring a student’s life to a complete halt. Attending class, studying, or any other normal activities must be put on hold until symptoms subside.

This inflammatory disease affects the gastrointestinal tract. According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, there are five main types of Crohn’s that affect different areas of the GI tract. The disease can be either active or in remission, and symptoms of active disease can range from mild to severe. Enduring the disease’s most common symptoms — diarrhea, fever, fatigue, abdominal pain and cramping, blood in the stool, mouth sores, and reduced appetite/weight loss — can be very disruptive for graduate students. On top of feeling extremely ill, Crohn’s sufferers must be constantly mindful of proximity to a restroom in case of a sudden flare-up. This preoccupation and anxiety coupled with the disease’s physically debilitating symptoms can wreak havoc on a student’s academic and social life.

As explained by the CDC, diabetes affects how the body converts food into energy. Specifically, the condition arises when the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or doesn’t use it efficiently. This results in blood sugar levels being too high, which can lead to serious, life-threatening problems. Graduate students who are living with this condition must take extra care to ensure they are keeping close tabs on their condition and living a healthy lifestyle — managing their diet, being active, and keeping an eye on stress. Students with diabetes must also ensure they have access to food and medication when they need it. Although it can be tricky to balance all of these measures with a busy academic schedule, they are absolutely crucial facets of successful diabetes management.

There are actually many types of depression, but it’s broadly defined as persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness that can interfere with most major aspects of a person’s life, including how he or she thinks, sleeps, eats, and behaves. Generally, those who have this mood disorder lose interest in things they once loved and become withdrawn. Certain symptoms of depression, such as slowed thinking, trouble concentrating, and lack of motivation, can drastically compound the challenges of graduate school. In fact, a survey from the National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 64% of college students with mental health issues end up dropping out. And many students who struggle with depression also battle anxiety at the same time. The combination of these two common conditions can make schoolwork feel overwhelming.

This chronic condition causes widespread pain throughout the body. It is not an inflammatory disease; rather, it is thought to involve the nervous system and imbalances of brain chemicals, which lead to faulty signaling in response to pain stimuli. Students with fibromyalgia must deal with a host of unpleasant symptoms, including pain and stiffness all over the body, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, jaw disorders, headaches and migraines, fatigue, and digestive issues. Another common symptom that is particularly problematic for students is “fibro fog,” which is a loss of mental clarity characterized by cognition and memory problems. Furthermore, fibromyalgia is commonly associated with depression, which can also have a negative effect on academic achievement.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune cells, which severely weakens the body’s ability to fight off disease and infection. If left untreated, this can progress to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), a late stage of the illness characterized by profound immune system damage. Effective antiretroviral therapy now allows people with HIV/AIDS to live long, healthy lives. In spite of this good news, managing the disease while in graduate school does present some challenges. Those who are affected may have to miss class for regular lab testing to monitor their condition. Some short-term side effects of HIV medications, such as nausea, fatigue, and trouble sleeping, can also be disruptive to academic life. Furthermore, students may develop distracting emotional problems that arise from HIV stigma.

Although the terms “overweight” and “obese” both refer to excess accumulation of fat that poses health risks, the World Health Organization differentiates the two classifications based on body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of body fat. A BMI over 30 constitutes obesity, which is more severe than overweight (BMI>25). And these are extremely common conditions — 44% of college students in the U.S. are overweight or obese. These students face many challenges, such as managing other associated serious diseases and conditions, battling stigma from classmates and instructors, and suffering from fatigue and impaired mobility. And all of these factors can further distract from academics by taking an emotional toll, as those who carry excess weight have a 55% higher risk of developing depression.

Also known as IBS, this condition — which affects 25 to 45 million people in the U.S. — is characterized by abdominal pain and changes in the appearance or frequency of bowel movements. Although the colon looks normal, it does not function normally. The condition can be extremely physically painful, and sufferers also tend to experience embarrassment and anxiety about their symptoms. Graduate students who are affected by IBS may feel self-conscious about the disease’s harder-to-hide features, such as bloating, gas, swelling, and urgent diarrhea. This can negatively impact their quality of life and how they interact with peers and participate in class. Furthermore, sufferers are often compelled to plan their days around their symptom timing, and this can be quite inconvenient when it comes to getting to class consistently and on time.

Completing a degree online enables you to access course content and materials from virtually anywhere. That is, as long as you have a reliable device and strong internet connection, you can attend class. This can be especially beneficial if you have a chronic condition that might cause you discomfort or embarrassment. Instead of being forced to sit in a crowded lecture hall, you can log in and participate from the comfort and privacy of your own home. Furthermore, the reassurance of easy access to all necessary facilities and amenities is likely to lower anxiety, which can improve focus and concentration.

In general, online degree programs are more affordable than traditional programs. This is attributable to a variety of factors, including lower overhead costs and elimination of additional expenses, such as transportation costs, housing, and assorted fees associated with attending class on campus. And saving money is quite important for students with chronic conditions. In fact, the American Action Forum reports that those who are chronically ill spend approximately five times more in direct health care costs than people without chronic health conditions.

Most chronic conditions can interfere with your ability to attend traditional classes consistently. For example, certain conditions involve flare-ups that trigger debilitating symptoms, making it impossible to get to campus. Others may require frequent doctor’s appointments or even hospitalizations. In such cases, online degree programs can provide the flexibility that you may need to get your coursework completed with as little stress as possible. The asynchronous option offered for many online programs means that you are not expected to log in at certain times. Instead, you can log in and complete your work at any time that is convenient. This eliminates the worry of missing class content or getting behind on assignments.