[KasiaS]

I’m a mere 6 days away from my AUD exam and in my final review, I’m feeling like I haven’t retained anything over the last 6 weeks because I’m dealing with some serious family stress that is taking a devastating toll on my mental health. No matter what I try to take my mind off the family issues, I am seriously lacking the motivation to stay on the ball and am bordering on what feels like depression/helplessness…

I know many of you are working through personal issues while conquering this exam. Do any of you have any advice for shaking stress if only for a few hours? I’m at my wits’ end.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[sacredtheory]

I can relate. I'm married, have a 2 year old daughter, and my wife is 8 months pregnant with our second child. The fact that I seclude myself for studying has really taken a toll on my wife. I suppose it would be easier if she wasn't pregnant and just dealing with a toddler, but it's been really tough on her these last few months. I don't get home from work until 6:30, so my wife is the single parent, feeding, bathing, and putting our daughter to sleep.

A few months ago, the night before I sat for my first exam, both my wife and I agreed it would be beneficial for me to spend the night at a hotel, that way I wouldn't have to worry about the 60 minute commute to the testing center, and I could relax and study in quiet the night before.

Not sure if you have the option, but try getting away for a night. I ended up swimming in the pool at the hotel (which was amazingly calming), grabbing a nice dinner at a local restaurant, and then just relaxing that night (and studying). The next morning I felt great, more so than I have in a long time.

I have no idea what I'm (we're) going to do once we have the baby shortly. I suppose we'll deal with that when the time comes.

BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
FAR: Passed

Jared

[mla1169]

I consider myself very lucky that my stressors are not anything devastating like illness or serious relationship problems. If its guilt that you're not giving either the exam or your family the best of attention remind yourself that the distraction from each seperate issue is probably good for everyone involved.

FAR- 77
AUD -49, 71, 84
REG -56,75!
BEC -75

Massachusetts CPA (non reporting) since 3/12.

[Yvonne570]

As a single mother living in a state without family around and kids are troubled teens, I am fully aware. Things happen. Unfortunitely. I took a week off before my AUD exam to get back into the game and focus. Hope you have a review program to assist. You may need to work harder but in the end, it's worth it. And you will become stronger.

AUD - Passed:)
FAR - Passed:)
REG - Retake TBD
BEC - Missed by 3 points Retake TBD

[yankeeaccountant]

@kasias

I feel for you. I have struggled with that myself. I think Sacredtheory is right, take a night at a hotel to clear your head before an exam (I have thought about doing this myself, I had a live Becker class and met a woman who got a hotel room for a whole week before her exam-she passed!) or take a night off–whatever works for you to give yourself some peace–I say do it. I like the hotel idea because it keeps the focus on the exam. I wear my heart on my sleeve, so keeping the focus is a constant struggle.

Best of luck to you……..I hope everything on the home front takes a turn for the better soon.

[KasiaS]

Thank you all for the replies. I love the idea of getting a hotel room and I'm sure it would do wonders for me but my family situation (the source of the added stress) won't let me have that kind of luxury. I am heading for a week long vacation the day following the exam and, until last week, that's kept me going and focused on the review materials.

I've been at it all day today and I hate to admit that after a short while my thoughts stray back to my family problems and I lose track of what I was even reading. I plan on staying late at the office tomorrow to study there. I'm working from home the rest of the week so I'll have the house to myself for almost 10 hours/day. Granted, I'll be working most of that time, but I'm hoping to get some serious review in during my extended lunch hours… I'm glad to have this forum to alleviate at least a little of this. No one at home fully understands what the CPA studies entail.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[yankeeaccountant]

KasiaS

Having the house to yourself can definitely help. The hotel idea is great, but sometimes isn't practical. I am taking audit again on Nov 23. This will be my 3rd time. It is the hardest exam for me. The questions are really tricky….so, take your time to read them carefully. This is the one exam (in my opinion) that time isn't a huge factor. Most people end up finishing with plenty of time to spare. With that in mind, it should give you some peace of mind, go in there on the 15th, take a deep breath, and you will do it. Judging by your other scores, I have faith that you will be able to put this exam behind you.

[sacredtheory]

KasiaS, feel free to vent! We can definitely relate to what you're going through! If it's not too personal of a question, can you elaborate on what kind of family struggles you're going through? I'm sure one of us has encountered a similar situation, and can hopefully give you some encouragement and positive thinking!

Try to remain sane, and think long-term!

BEC: Passed
AUD: Passed
REG: Passed
FAR: Passed

Jared

[jomarie]

I agree with sacredtheory. I'm always thinking long term, that's what keeps me going!!

Started sitting in May 2002, on and off. But since 2008 I've been nonstop and my scores are....
AUD - 39, 48, 56, 65, 68, 73, 76!!! (Finally passed in Oct 2011!!!) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
REG - 75 (Lost Credit) 72, 68, 73, 75 (Passed again in Aug 2011) Becker, NINJA, & Wiley
FAR - 65, 68, 75 (Lost Credit) 68, 73, 73, 80 (Passed again in May 2012) Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
BEC - 65, 68, 71, 72, 72, 71, 76 (Lost Credit)- 70, 76!!!! I AM DONE!!! - Roger, NINJA, & Wiley
After 10 long years of studying, I AM DONE!!!! Finally a Licensed CPA in the State of New York!!

[KasiaS]

Sacredtheory, I am still living at home with my parents (it's just the 3 of us) and the problem is my dad's alcoholism and, unfortunetaly, I'm the unwilling middleman in this situation. Both of my parents look to me to be the voice of reason and to side with one or the other and I refuse to be that… and this leads to them giving me guilt trips for not helping.

Additionally, I'm dealing with a medical condition that worsens with my stress/hormone levels. As a result, I've been dealing with intense back and abdominal pains. The pain along with the stress weight gain is also taking an emotional toll on me since not only do I not have control over my dad's drinking, I now feel like I don't even have control over my own body.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[HumanPiranha]

I think one of the things you gotta keep in mind is that the timespan that it takes to study for the exam is pretty long. There are going to be ebbs and flows in life over that time period. The only thing to do is keep pressing forward, or as tom joad put it, keep laying one foot down in front of another

[Anonymous]

KasiaS,

I am so sorry you have to deal with all of that. Having an alcoholic parent is hard on anyone, much less someone trying to conquer the CPA exam.

Like the previous poster said, we have to deal with the reality that is life. It goes on regardless of our agendas. In the 2 years I studied for the exam, I faced a few tragic situations. I can say that no matter what, I tried to separate myself from the situation and focus on my goals. It didn't always work but I had to try, otherwise the tragedy will consume me.

You're halfway there. You are almost done with AUD and then another 6 weeks or so, you will be done with REG. In the grand scheme of things, that isn't very much longer. The last few weeks of study are the hardest for most of us. We are burnt out and sick of it. You've come too far to slow down and lose momentum now. This is the time where you really test your strength and perseverance.

Once you get through REG, you can begin to give yourself some time to help your dad. Be selfish and take care of yourself for a little while longer. When you are done with the exam, you'll be in a better place to help you and your family in so many ways. One day after you pass the entire exam, you will look back and think, “How did I ever do it?”.

I wish you the best. Keep posting and know we are here to support you.

[KasiaS]

Thank you for your kind words and support. I'm doing everything in my power to “just keep swimming” (as Dory says in Finding Nemo). I'm just focusing on getting through the next 6 days.

They'll be rough, but I have no choice. I refuse to reschedule this exam. Hopefully I'll retain just enough to get that magic 75 and move on with my life. I'll definitely keep posting since I seem regain some of my sanity within this forum.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Veronica75]

Ugh. Stress = my life for nearly two years. It has definitely been a rollercoaster. I was a 4.0 student in school, but working fulltime and studying just doesn't come easy for me, and the exams have been a struggle. I've gained 10 pounds on top of it. Before one of my BEC exams, I went into anaphylactic shock – or so the doctor classified it due to low blood pressure and hives – I was completely covered in hives which I've never experience in my life. I was so obsessed with studying that I had my becker book in the doctor's office when she told me this was a life-threatening reaction! Crazy. I was red and blue the weekend prior to my exam and I didn't crack a book once. I barely got to the exam monday morning, did all I could, and left. I bombed with a 61.

After that, I started working out at the gym a little and decided that I didn't care about the exam. My health matters more, as does my relationship with my husband which this exam has strained a bit. I did a final review course through Becker which happened to have an excellent instructor. I felt motivated and crammed for two weeks and scored an 81! I had said that if I didn't pass, I wasn't going to continue. Here I am. 🙂

I, too, have a father with an alcohol problem. In high school and college, I was so stressed with family issues, I don't know how I focused on school and did so well. I could write a friggin' Lifetime movie script. Now, it's a struggle to focus. Isn't that ironic? Just wanted you to know that I understand the type of crap you're going through. Just keep your eye on the prize. We will feel so awesome once we pass this thing!!!!

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[KasiaS]

@Veronica, thanks for sharing, I can't say I'm happy that there are others out there with similar problems but it is reassuring that there are those like you and the other posters who understand what I'm going through.

I've noticed that the older I get, the less tolerant I am of the drama in the house. Maybe I just didn't fully understand when I was younger but, like you, I was always a stellar student.

The good news is that I am definitely retaining information since I'm scoring pretty high on my MCQ practice. I'm heavily sleep deprived, but in only a few more days, this piece will be behind me and hopefully good news will come in early Nov. and this week's effort will not have been a complete waste of my sanity.

FAR 88 (07/15/11)
BEC 83 (08/31/11)
AUD 81 (10/15/11)
REG 83 (11/26/11)

Used NIU Correspondence CPA Review

[Veronica75]

Look at that awesome FAR score!! I'm so jealous. I'm sure you will do great on the next two exams! 🙂 Good luck to you.

FAR - 79 (2x)
AUD - 81 (expired), 77!
REG - 74! omg (3x) 87!!!!!!! I'm done! OMG!
BEC - 81 (4x)

[Author]

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