Depression can affect your everyday functioning. Here are some ways to fight depression while in college. Talking about mental health is something that has become more and more common, which is great. Being aware of the things that affect your wellbeing, mood, and mental health is important. But it is also essential to know how to help people affected by a mental disorder. Especially during these uncertain times, it is crucial to know how to handle difficult moments.
College students are affected by depression too. The latest surveys reveal that students who had no prior mental health issues are now struggling with depressive symptoms. The rate of suicide is also high for people aged 15-34, and this is a clear symptom of depression. Depression in college is real, so we will shed more light on the causes of this mood disorder. We will look into some ways to deal with depression and resources that can help you understand your feelings better too.
Causes of Depression
Some might think that few students might experience depressive episodes during their college life. This is because being a student is portrayed and painted mostly in pink colors by the media. However, these changes can make some students feel out of place.
When you move to college in a different city, the entire world changes. For most students, going to college is the first time they are away from their families for so long. During college, exams, essays, papers pile up and this can become stressful and overwhelming. On top of this, as universities close around the world due to the global pandemic, students experienced huge disruptions.
All these can lead to symptoms of depression, among which: experiencing a feeling of sadness or hopelessness constantly, gaining or losing weight, losing pleasure or interest in normal activities (such as hobbies, sports), and sleep disturbances.
Many students do not even suspect that they have been depressed for a long time. In order to determine this, you can start studying this topic with the help of WritingBros where you can find many informative essays on the topic of human health and psychology. This will help you find answers to some of your questions on this topic.
How to Overcome Depression
Start Psychotherapy
There are many ways you can fight depression. Medication and psychotherapy could do the job, but there are some behavior or habit changes you can implement too. Starting therapy is one of the first things you need to do. Talking with a therapist will help you identify unhealthy thinking patterns to reframe. But it will also come with the support and guidance you need during these tough moments.
Sleep Well .
Indeed, getting an education is overwhelming at times. You need to write that essay and for this, you sacrifice your sleep. Sleep deprivation can lead to symptoms of depression, but it can also be a symptom by itself. It is crucial to adopt healthy sleeping habits. This will give you energy for the day and a different perspective on your tasks.
Exercising
Depression comes with a loss of pleasure in activities that were once pleasant. You do not feel like engaging in your hobby. You do not feel like going out of the house and taking a walk around the park. Exercising regularly could help you handle these depressive episodes and moments. This is because when you exercise, a release of endorphins is triggered in your brain. Endorphins are known to help relieve pain, but also make you feel good.
Sources and Recommendations.
Depression is a wide topic and there are so many things to learn about it. If you want to discover more about the causes and symptoms of this disorder, here are some recommendations. You can explore more ways to handle and solve depression, recommended by renowned psychologists.
The Upward Spiral by Alex Corb – a book written by a neuroscientist that helps you understand this mood disorder better
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker – is a really interesting book that takes a look into the science of sleep. Discover more about the benefits of sleep from a professor of neuroscience and psychology.
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey – if you want to learn more about the connection between your mind and body, then this book is right for you. It sheds more light on exercising as a means of fighting depression and its benefits.