Post-College Depression
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

Post-College Depression

What happens after you get the piece of paper?

91
Post-College Depression

Since the age of four, I have been friends with this girl. I still remember the first time that I met her. I remember the CD's we passed back and forth in grade school, the crafts we worked on together in Girl Scouts and the countless hours we spent watching Disney movies.

We grew together and apart many times throughout the years, but we always remained aware of one another. Having similar interests keeps you relatively close, especially in a small town high school.

It was a fluke, however––when I sat down next to her in Media Law at Oakland University.

Turned out, after all these years of trying to figure ourselves out, we were heading down a similar path: Journalism.

After marveling at the sheer irony of the matter, we got to talking.

What had we both been up to?

What did we love and hate about college?

What were we going to do next?

Naturally, we grew close again. It was easy to talk, having so many classes and homogeneous goals.

This past year, my friend graduated, heading out into the abyss and bravely seeking opportunity. I stayed behind, grumpily accepting my fate of struggling through one last semester alone. Familiarity is comfortable. I liked being comfortable.

After accepting a job that will surely lead her to a career, my friend and I speak on occasion, but nowhere near as frequently as we used to when we shared a classroom. She became an adult, and I stayed a college student. She knows the truths about the world after you get that unreachable piece of paper.

I recently caught up with my triumphant confidant for a drink (cause who doesn't need one by Wednesday, am I right?) and learned that the post-graduate life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

College coming to an end is both the best and worst moment of a young adult’s life.

Post-College depression is a sadness that sets in after you realize all the good times of college are now officially over. No more drinking at two in the afternoon for no reason. No more meeting new people in every class and making friends so easily. After college, the time for real world responsibilities sets in. You’re no longer practicing for the game, you’re in it.

That, for many college graduates, is a very scary concept.

Many reputable news sources have covered this topic, concerned about the fate of Millennials.

Brooke Donatone and Slate of The Washington Post writes, "People in their 20s no longer view themselves as adults. There are various plausible reasons for this, including longer life spans, helicopter parenting and fewer high-paying jobs that allow new college grads to be financially independent at a young age."

Psychology Todayactually calls this challenge facing millennials a "mental health crisis." The article goes on to say, "Rates of anxiety and depression have similarly sky-rocketed in the last few decades. A 2013 survey of college students found that 57 percent of women and 40 percent of men reported experiencing episodes of “overwhelming anxiety” in the past year, and 33 percent of women and 27 percent of men reported a period in the last year of feeling so depressed it was difficult to function."

The Huffington Poststates that if you know and are concerned about any recent graduates, these are the symptoms you should be looking out for: "persistently low mood and negative outlook, an inability to concentrate, a decrease in self-care and personal appearance, not getting out of bed and constantly oversleeping or consistently poor sleep, a sense of hopelessness and comments about life not being worth living, and a noticeable increase in drinking and substance use."

If you think you’re suffering from post-college depression, it’s very important to find the things in life that make you happy. Check out these tips to avoid the symptoms of post-college depression. Make the most of yourself while you can.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70728
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132348
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments