Having depression in college is as common as learning the alphabet in preschool.
We have all heard it said that during our college careers we will meet many people who seem to have their lives together and have no issues, but in reality are battling depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. We are told this is going to happen more times than we possibly even realize. And guess what? That is true.
According to a 2006 survey conducted by the American College Health Association, 45% of women and 36% of men reported feeling so depressed that is was difficult to function at least once during the year. Since 2006, those numbers have gone up, and in 2009 it was reported that nearly 98% of students that go to their school health center are diagnosed with depression or an anxiety disorder. With the numbers continually growing each year, it is important to stay educated and open minded about the number one most common mental illness in the USA.
I first started experiencing depressed thoughts and feelings when I was a sophomore in high school. At first I ignored them, thinking they would go away on their own; however, as time went on, they only got worse. When I was given the official diagnosis of depression and an anxiety disorder, I was actually relieved. It felt nice to know what was happening and that there were plenty of resources available to me. I still battle depression and a severe anxiety disorder, but my journey gets easier every day.
Before we move on, it is important to know some of the tell tale signs of depression. If you have depression you may be feeling:
-sad
-anxious
-worthless
-empty
-hopeless
-guilty
-irritable
-restless
You may also experience a few of these symptoms as well:
-loss of interest in activities
-lack of energy
-problems concentrating, remembering information, or making decisions
-problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or sleeping too much
-loss of appetite or eating too much
-thought of suicide or suicide attempt
-aches, pains, headaches that do not got away*
*All information gathered from the National Institute for Mental Health
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should go to your school's health center and talk to someone about what to do next.
There are many ways to cope with depression, and after reflecting back on my experiences and interviewing a few of my fellow students, I have compiled a list of things that could help you.
-Find a group of friends that are supportive of you and what you are going through
-Find an activity that you can devote your attention to. This should be an activity that gives you peace and you enjoy. That could be work, an extracurricular, or doing physical activity.
-Speaking of physical activity, doing some sort of workout is very good for you and your mental health. Exercise releases endorphins, which make you happy!
-Continue to be honest with yourself, your family, and your therapist about where you are in your journey with depression. You are only hurting yourself by lying. The more upfront you are, the easier the journey is.
If you, or someone you know, is battling with depression or any other mental illness, please find help and know that it will get easier.