College offers new experiences and challenges. This can
be exciting, but it can also be stressful and make you, or
someone you know, feel sad. But when "the blues" last
for weeks, or interfere with academic or social
functioning, it may be clinical depression. Clinical
depression is a common, frequently unrecognized illness
that can be effectively treated.
There are many different levels of depression, but a key
feature of each is the feelings of depression go beyond
a “simple sadness.” Students who are depressed have
trouble keeping up with their work, school assignments
and are often hopeless about the future.
Some of the symptoms
of depression:
DEPRESSION
• Social withdrawal; avoids friends
• Restlessness or irritability; easily gets mad
• Decrease in physical activities; often crying
• Addiction to substances or certain behaviors (etc. gaming)
• Increased class absence for no apparent reason
• Reduction in motivation, self-esteem, and self-confidence
• Disturbances in eating and/or sleeping patterns
• Feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, guilt or self-blame
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Thoughts of hurting self or committing suicide
Among College Students
Depression does not have a single cause. Several factors
can lead to depression. Some people carry genes that
increase their risk of depression. But not all people with
depression have these genes, and not all people with these
genes have depression. Environment—your surroundings
and life experiences, such as stress, also affects your risk
for depression.
Causes and risk factors for depression:
 Loneliness, lack of social support
 Recent stressful life experience
 Family history of depression
 Relationship problems or conflicts
 Financial Strain
 Early childhood trauma or abuse
 Health problems or chronic pain
 Difficult school work, poor grades
Isn't depression just a form of weakness?
It can seem to other people that a person with
depression has just 'given in', as if they have a choice
in the matter. The fact is, there comes a point at which
depression is much more like an illness than anything
else. It can happen to the most determined of people,
and calls for help, not criticism. It is not a sign of
weakness - even powerful personalities can
experience deep depression. Winston Churchill
called it his "black dog."
How to recover from depression?
Just as the symptoms or causes of depression are different
in different people, so are the ways to feel better. What
works for one person might not work for another, and no
one treatment is appropriate in all cases. If you recognize
the signs of depression in yourself or a loved one, take
some time to explore the many treatment options. In
most cases, the best approach involves a combination of
the following:
Ask for help and support. Have a strong support
system. Let your family and friends know what you’re
going through and how they can reach out to you.
Make healthy lifestyle changes. Get regular exercise
and sleep, and eat healthfully. Manage stress; replace your
unhelpful or self-defeating thinking patterns. Cultivate
supportive relationships.
Build emotional skills. Learning how to recognize and
express your emotions can make you more resilient.
Seek professional help. Make an appointment with
your college counselor. Counseling can help you to be
clearer about how you feel about your life and others.
Sources:
http://space.collegecounseling.org/
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression-and-college-students/index.shtml
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm
For Counseling and other Guidance Services, please visit/contact us at:
SACSO - Guidance Unit (GU)
Room F1501, FEU Institute of Technology
Paredes St., Sampaloc, Manila
736-0015 loc. 124/128