It’s no lie that college is a rude awakening to how rough life can be. It is especially awful when you get sick and realize that your parents aren’t there to wait on you hand and foot. Being sick in college is, without a doubt, the worst experience you’ll go through in college and here’s why:

1. Denial

That itch in the back of your throat was definitely there last week. I mean it IS allergy season. There’s no way you’re sick. You just don’t have the time. So what if your head is hot? That just means your brain is working overtime! You’ll be fine. Just keep a couple tissues with you and drink a Powerade, and you’ll be good.

2. Anger

AGH! You knew that your roommate sounded a little stuffy last week. Now OF COURSE they gave it to you. WHY?! Why must bad things happen to good people? You wish you could shrink down to microscopic size and kick some bacteria/virus butt. You’re so heated about it, you can’t bring yourself to see other people. You want to be isolated so that you may sulk in your futile state. Hello Darkness My Old Friend…

3. Bargaining

Okay, you’ve been mad enough now. But in your anger you formulated a theory. There must be some all powerful being that is smighting you for your indiscretions. If only you could communicate with it and tell it that you will never be so stupid again. You’ll never go out, drink, or party again if it means you can feel better. You’ll even give up those late-night HofUSA runs if it means this madness will stop. Unfortunately however, your bargaining is usually pointless. Can’t hurt to try.

4. Depression

I hate life. This sickness will kill me. Someone probably planted these germs in my room to kill me. The world wants me to die. I can’t go on anymore. Just leave me in this dorm room to rot. Tell my teachers I tried. Tell my parents I love them. I just wasn’t strong enough and this, this is how it ends.

5. Acceptance

Okay, no, it’s definitely cool. I can live like this. I’ll just take DayQuil every morning and NyQuil every night. I’ll live in a bubble and I’ll find a way to live this imperfectly sick life. It will be tough, but it is my duty to fight through and make the best of it to be an inspiration for those who fall behind me. I shall lead them and show them that they can live with this disability and they can get through it. You are strong. You will fight through this sickness.

Life Lesson

The kicker of all this? You go through all these stages in under 48 hours. The truth is, it sucks being sick in college, but it’s something everyone has gone through. You’ll make it through and it’ll probably be quicker than you thought. It’s not the end of the world. Get some sleep, some fluids, and maybe a trip to the Health and Wellness Center. But above all, take care of yourself. If you’re getting sick, maybe think about taking it easy and getting some rest rather than pushing it. It’s pretty exhausting going through the five stages of sickness.