Friday, July 11, 2008

AAAAAACK!

Okay, just so you don't think I've fallen off the face of the earth, I haven't abandoned the blog, nor have I abandoned y'all (actually I stop by all my faves at least once a day, I just haven't been commenting much, if at all). You see, I sit for the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychology's oral exam for full licensure tomorrow down in Austin. I'll be sitting for the neuropsychology specialization. It's pretty much the last hoop I have to jump through to practice on my own once my postdoc is over in December and I have been studying and reviewing like all hell to make sure I pass it the first time - even though there's really no way to study for it. Anxious doesn't even begin to describe how I'm feeling. The panic attacks aren't as bad as when I sat for the national exam, the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) four years ago, because I have better coping skills now to handle them, but my anxiety is palpable and I'm really not feeling like very much fun or very good company. I have a lot to talk about, I'm just too nervous to do it right now, so just know that all's well and I'll have a really juicy and newsy post once I get tomorrow out of the way.

*smooches!*

5 comments:

Fantasy Writer Guy said...

I wish you wouldn't panic. What's the worst that can happen? Is your health or that of your loved ones in jeopardy if you fail? Will you end up living on the street?

I guess you feel like you've invested so much in your career that failure would spell disaster. I think what we really fear at these times is damage to our reputation. But I suggest that reputation is a very flawed idea.

If you fail, perhaps others will envy you less and resent your priveleges less! And perhaps you'll remain strong, intelligent, healthy and loved! Would that be so bad?

Regardless, I suspect you'll do great!

Dr. Brainiac said...

Awwww, Fwig. The worst that can happen is that I've spent the last ten years, at least three cubic fuckloads of effort and roughly a quarter million dollars to get where I am and two guys who have nothing to do with, have no knowledge of my training or experience, and have never seen me in action can act as one more barrier to the life I've worked so hard to build for myself and my family.

In better news, I survived the experience without projectile vomiting on either of them, but I just wish the guys reprensented some semblance of normal and didn't act like psychologists. The weirdest part was that there was a 2-way mirror in the room and the examiner seated closest to it kept trying to look into it and repeatedly pulled his Crackberry out of his pocket to look at it.
They sent me home within a few minutes of my completion, so I either failed miserably or passed (albeit marginally). However, I won't know the outcome for another 6 weeks - roughly Labor Day. Good thing I'm not doing anything...

Constance said...

Six weeks to find out the results ???? Augggh - that is sadistic. They should be referred out for treatment :)

You passed, of course, but the anxiety surrounding it is really suckalicious given how hard you've studied and all the time you have put into it for a career.

The only good news is that the worst is behind you, and now you can go sit out by the pool with a frosty mug of beer or go shopping with your daughter for cute new clothes with a clear conscience, and not worry that you have to be hitting the books !

Brunhilda said...

Oh goodness. How nerve wracking indeed. I'm sure you did well. Try not to worry about it too much for the next six freaking weeks!

Fantasy Writer Guy said...

Yikes. Nice of them to go out of their way to make you feel comfortable...

I'm not familiar with cubic fuckload specifics but it sure sounds big. I do hope you are rewarded for your effort.