College and visual snow?

[u/Illustrious-Self-633]

How are you guys able to go to school with this condition? I struggled through a semester last year and it was terrible :/ But I really do want to go back to school maybe this year or next. But I can't stand most flurescent, artificial lighting and I get sensory overload. It made my anxiety terrible and I honestly don't see how I can focus and study and do what's required of me when I'll most likely get severe headaches and migraines from it. also i don’t do well with long hours staring at screens or reading, so i feel kinda screwed.

[u/Conscious-Spend-1014]

Law school 👋

[u/Illustrious-Self-633 → u/Conscious-Spend-1014]

That’s great!!! any tips??

[u/Conscious-Spend-1014 → u/Illustrious-Self-633]

I wear blue light-blocking glasses and make sure to study for no more than 2 hours at a time. I set a timer to ensure I'm not cramming. I try to ignore the symptoms as best I can; I know that sounds stupid, but it truly does help. I also recommend taking classes early in the morning and opting for online courses when possible to help prevent sensory overload. I developed VSS in my sophomore year of college and had a huge 2 o’clock lecture class with 400 students in it, which was a nightmare. Try to take classes with fewer students in them. And don't let VSS limit you. I know it's easier said than done, but you don’t want to look back on your life and regret not accomplishing what you wanted because of this condition. Good luck, friend!

[u/thisappiswashedIcl → u/Conscious-Spend-1014]

What an excellent, comment. haha you're far better than me I cram wayy too much haha

[u/GabrNetto]

I'm sorry for everything you're going through. I also have visual snow, and I'm in my 4th year of medical school in my country (6 years in total). I'm not the best student, but I study hard and manage to do well, although sometimes it's quite stressful and as a result the symptoms get worse, especially when I don't get enough sleep. Even so, I think having a life project like this is what distracts me and makes me forget about the symptoms, you know? So I can't complain, it's bad having to deal with this in college, but it would be even worse if I wasn't studying.

[u/ya_girl_drake_420]

I went back to classes to get my ged, so not collage but the lights were very bright. I had my dr right a note saying I can wear sunglasses in class if needed. They really helped with the bright lights and less VS affecting me made the anxiety of being in class more tolerable.

[u/Bubbly-Frosting-9403]

I wear dark sunglasses if I’m going to be under fluorescent lights.

[u/FloppuFloppu → u/Bubbly-Frosting-9403]

This is my solution as well. I always wear my sunglasses. Most people on campus haven't really seen me without them. Even with them on, some rooms are still heavily visually polluted and I'm squinting because it's just obnoxiously bright, but they certainly help a LOT. The tint also helps soften the bland white walls. Mine aren't dark enough to dampen it as much as I would like, but that's the tradeoff with polarized lenses. I haven't been able to get a darker tint at any eyeglass stores.

[u/Hopeleah23 → u/FloppuFloppu]

Why oh why they just can't make darker eyeglasses for us?!

I've already purchased the strongest category of eyeglasses (category 4) that is availible in my country and it still feels to weak when I'm outside in bright sunshine with them. And nooo, I don't want to drive a car with them on, thanks! I just need them to be able to exist in daylight during summer 😭

[u/Renkku95]

I have mild symptoms so it didn't get in the way of studying for me. Few things I can recommend are avoiding caffeine and using a physical notebook for notekeeping instead of a laptop or a tablet.

[u/ElectronicallyErased]

Do not drop out. I went through college with it just fine (if anything, my grades improved from high school - when I didn't have VS!).

Some tips:

1. Anti-inflammatory diet
   
2. Regular exercise/join a team sport
   
3. Remember - "it's all in your head"!

Ultimately, VS is the ultimate end "boss" from god/whoever that is testing your patience and your perseverence.

Find things that make you smile - people, hobbies, exercise - and focus like a laser on them. Improve at them. Set goals.

And my final suggestion - AVOID THIS SUBREDDIT (and social media in general!)

Best to you, my friend!

[u/IntrovertExplorer_]

I dropped out. It cause way too much stress for me.

[u/Illustrious-Self-633 → u/IntrovertExplorer_]

yes i can relate :( are you able to find a job/career you can do??

[u/IntrovertExplorer_ → u/Illustrious-Self-633]

No, only minimum wage jobs. In other words, dead end jobs. I decided that I can’t keep living this way. Something has to change, right? I plan on going back to school. I’m thinking of ways to adapt and work with my VS problems.

[u/Illustrious-Self-633 → u/IntrovertExplorer_]

that’s really good. I hope you can do something you like, we gotta keep trying yk. would u wanna chat more about it? i’m also tryna find ways to make it work

[u/delta815 → u/IntrovertExplorer_]

what caused y our vsss

[u/FruitDue2394]

l dropped out, i can't read properly it is really sad because it was my last year

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[u/IndependentEbb1608]

In college in Louisiana here, I manage by sunglasses, not overloading myself at one time, hanging out with friends, and blue light glasses