New Grad Sickness?

[m-ttl]

Alright this may seem like a weird question, but how many of you first year grads feel vaguely ill or sick?

 

I've been talking to a friend in my cohort over coffee about the weird, slightly "off" feeling we both have. We've only been in classes for a week and a half, but both of us feel like we have a sort of "new Grad malaise". Our symptoms are rather general and could probably be attributed to other things, but we've both felt slightly feverish at times, aching joints, and a nagging sort of exhaustion. 

 

The thing is, I might believe this was the flu if i felt any more sick, but besides being hot under the collar and tired, I feel fine. It's not anything specific per se, but a general ache and exhaustion. I personally have already been to the campus health center, and I was fine. Clean bill of health! It could simply be the stress of a new environment, but I don't feel overly stressed and I love my program. 

 

So the only other thing I could pin it down to is some kind of "new school/grad student malaise". Does anyone else feel like this? Slightly off or ill? Or have experience with it in their own first year? I've also had a major relocation - switched 3 time zones and a big climate difference (from dry to humid), which might contribute. 

 

Crazy, or common place? 

 

[TakeruK]

I felt a similar thing doing the opposite climate change--moving from a very humid place to a very dry place. I found that I was not drinking nearly as much water as I should be for the climate and was just feeling unwell with occasional headaches. Once I figured out that I was basically living in a desert and started drinking lots more water, I felt a lot better too.

 

I think feeling a bit unwell due to stress of a new life basically is fairly normal. It could also be allergies to pollens/whatever that your body isn't used to in the new environment. I normally need to take antihistamines basically daily and while normally I don't feel the negative effects unless I skip 3 or more days, when I'm traveling, I always notice it if I forget! Also, sometimes when I am traveling or just moved, I don't have enough time to cook for myself properly and end up making less than ideal meal choices, which makes me feel crappy too.

 

So, since you already went to the health center to make sure it's nothing serious, my advice would be to make sure you're drinking enough water, eating well, getting enough sleep and taking antihistamines if necessary. (Obviously this is not medically qualified advice, just based on my experience that when I feel "off" but not actually sick, one of these things is usually missing in my life).

Edited September 3, 2014 by TakeruK

[negrezco]

I have felt a bit "off" as well. I think its partly due to stressing over the newness of everything...

• I took 3 years off from undergrad so my mind is not used to reading and writing and studying.
• I'm also in a new area so allergies are still a little off, but breathing is a bit easier each day so that's resolving itself.
• I know I am not eating as well as I used to when I just worked, so taking the weekends to cook several meals and section them off and eat my own "tv dinners" has helped get my GI back together. 
• Lastly (even though I can't attest that I have completely done this yet) remember to work out! I'm used to being active and so being sedentary for hours a week is really taking a toll on me. I don't feel as energetic as I usually do, still need to get my schedule figured out when to work out and avoid all the undergrads!

[Scantronphobia]

So glad to have found this thread--have been feeling unusually exhausted and sickly as well. I think it is the stress of a new environment and the knowledge that the program I have just entered is more demanding than anything I have done before. Having to watch what I eat and try to get enough sleep; ironically, I am exhausted but cannot sleep very well. Insane. This is what I WANT to do, but my body is saying otherwise...

[ERR_Alpha]

I've been having trouble sleeping and what used to be mild lactose intolerance is ramping up. I think it's just a combo of stress/anxiety.

[adela]

I've felt a bit off, myself.

 

I think it could be a few things.

 

Stress. I just moved in addition to starting a new program. Stress is known very well to impact the body in crazy ways.

 

Suddenly being in crowded spaces with a bunch of other people. Who knows if a cold or something is getting around?

 

Allergies. New city, new climate. My body might just be adjusting to new allergens. 

 

 

Plus, I think I've been consuming less water lately. I just did some yoga in my living room. It helped relive some tension I didn't realize was building up. Always good to take some time for yourself!

[maelia8]

I just got legitimately sick on Monday with a bad cold This happens to my every fall when I go back to school (even when I was working as a high school teaching assistant), and always hits me within three weeks of classes starting - it doesn't seem to matter what city or continent I'm located in. I attribute it to my exposure to a whole new set of germs in all of the school buildings and classrooms, and it's just sort of an ordeal that I have to get through in order to build up the necessary immunities. It stinks, but hey, I'm used to it at this point.

[gellert]

I was also quite sick last week, and all through the weekend!  I was starting to wonder if I was allergic to something in my building....  Glad to see I'm not alone.

[fuzzylogician]

I've been known to get sick right after moving to a new place. I guess it's how my body (mis)handles adjusting to a new environment/climate, etc. When the move was to new country and required getting used to new everything (including the water, food, etc.), this usually took longer than when it was just a new city in the same country. But even after my body physically adjusts to the new place, it takes much longer to feel mentally adjusted. There is just so much to take in, you don't even really realize it. But suddenly you don't know how to pay on the bus, or how the money looks, or what kind of toilet paper you like, or whether you wait to be seated at a restaurant or not, or what the name of the local drug store is, or where any of the local/university services are, and so on. It's a lot to take in. I think it's normal to feel weird about it, and I've come to expect it. I think it's actually made my most recent move this summer much easier. 

[music]

It's called "freshers' flu" in the UK, it's just expected that new students get sick when they're suddenly exposed to people from all over the world who might be carrying illnesses they've never been in contact with. Along with a generally stressed body and mind, minor bugs are bound to take hold. 

[ginagirl]

I have also been feeling "off". My nose has been running like a faucet and my throat feels strange (and as I'm typing this, I just sneezed all over my laptop ).. Could possibly be just allergies because I feel mostly fine otherwise. Haven't been able to get on a consistent sleep schedule and I've been having a hard time falling asleep. Need some tea and calming exercises before bed I guess...

[Kayla757]

I started classes mid August and i went into my program straight after undergrad and I feel soooo weird. I think my big problem is adjusting to the fact that I'm not apart of the "college lifestyle" anymore. The work load doesn't seem too heavy thus far, but time tells all.  

[St Andrews Lynx]

There was one time that I started a new office-based job - during the first few days I had to run to the bathroom because I felt like I would throw up. And I think it was because I was inside the office all day! I've also had flash illnesses after long-haul flights when I'm cooped up with people in continuously-recycled air. It doesn't take much to trigger an immune system crash...

 

My fail-save medical remedy to knock off colds & illness is to mix (i) one cup hot water (ii) the squeezed juice half a lemon (ii) one tablespoon of honey. Pure magic. Add some ginger if you're feeling really poorly. 

[maelia8]

 

My fail-save medical remedy to knock off colds & illness is to mix (i) one cup hot water (ii) the squeezed juice half a lemon (ii) one tablespoon of honey. Pure magic. Add some ginger if you're feeling really poorly. 

 

@St. Andrews Lynx that's exactly what I've been drinking over the past few days, and I've been getting better! It also tastes utterly delicious

[WriteAndKnit]

Oh, yes, I know what you mean. It's the New Semester Blahs. You're not quite SICK, but you feel kind of crappy overall. I always get that within the first few weeks. Usually because I'm around more people (and their germs) and I'm adjusting to a new schedule. This time around, too, it's been so hot and humid that I barely have any energy. 

 

Little things I try to do: keep a consistent sleep/meal schedule (as consistent as possible, anyway); drink more water (I have a reusable bottle); set up your research/study schedule to include 5-10 minute "moving around" breaks (if I know I'm going to be in the library for a long time, I plan different work locations, a trip to find books, etc so I get up and walk around every hour or so); and stick with healthy meal options (one of the cafeterias on campus has schwarma and Greek salad every day, and a local restaurant regularly has a "cantaloupe and berry bowl" with a bowl of soup).

 

Make sure you get gym time, too. I'm in physical therapy for another week (if you think "hey, spraining my knee sounds like fun" -- it's not, don't do it) and once that's over, I'm going to the yoga class that happens at the same time and will add other stuff to that as I can. 

 

Oh! See if your university has a licensed massage therapist (NCSU's is in student health, or they may be with athletics). I have an hour weekly massage that's good for my stress, which means it's good for me in general. It's nice to be able to just live in the moment for an hour, too.