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Sometimes you just feel a overwhelmed.
Sometimes your sports club is taking too much time. Maybe there’s too much pressure from all your classes or your friends.
This happens.
But there’s a fine line between being overwhelmed and it turning into depression.
What can depression include?
- Depressed mood most of the day
- Loss of interest in almost all activities
- Significant weight loss or decrease in appetite
- Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness)
- Feelings of restlessness
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feeling worthless or guilty (sometimes for no reason)
- Trouble thinking or concentrating
- Recurring thoughts of death or of committing suicide (without a specific plan)
-From Psychguides.com
If you are feeling any of these things, then maybe you want to reach out and get help. Sometimes just talking to a friend can help you get out of the slump – as it may be a mood swing. But it may be something more severe. If you feel depressed, talk to someone. You are not alone. Use your counseling services on campus. You may not want to own up to being depressed, as it can be embarrassing, but do so. Call your parents just to talk as hearing a friendly voice can help.
How can I help control depression?
Find out what is triggering it. Are your friends bullying you? Are you overwhelmed? Once you find out what is causing you to be upset, you then can work on controlling it. If it’s your friends, find new ones. If you have too much work, talk with your professors for a work plan. If you don’t have enough time in a day, say no to certain things. Your personal health must come first. You have 4 years of college. You can’t get burn out in the first year or two.
What if I see someone depressed?
Reach out to them. If you see that they have changed and something is wrong, just ask them if they are okay and show that you care and are there for them. Letting them know that there is someone available can be what they need to reach out.
What if I’m scared for their life?
Sometimes you see the changes being more drastic and you are actually afraid for them – maybe they talk about wanting to kill themselves or other things along those lines. Make sure they know you are there to talk. But that sometimes isn’t enough.
AffordableCollegeOnlines says to watch out for these things –
- Withdrawing from friends and family
- Taking steps to tie up loose ends, such as giving away possessions, settling debts, etc.
- Looking into or discussing suicide methods
- Abnormally reckless or unsafe behavior
- Significant increase in irritability and/or aggression
- Expressing feelings of being especially depressed, in pain, trapped, angry, sad or hopeless
- Newfound or increased abuse of drugs or alcohol
- No longer participating in activities or hobbies that used to bring enjoyment
- Experiencing extreme mood swings
- Drastic change in sleeping habits
- Talking about wanting to die
If you are seriously worried, reach out to the local services on campus for psychological health. They will be able to direct you in what you want to do. If you know this individuals parents or siblings, reach out to them and inform them of your concerns. Use discretion in this as it may not be the best first option. Start with counseling services and take action from there.
I was too late.
Sometimes things happen. Sometimes you missed the warning signs. Sometimes there were no signs! If your friend, or someone you know, happens to take a drastic turn, you cannot blame yourself. You may want to retreat into yourself and may become depressed as well. Please, try and acknowledge that and reach out to the appropriate individuals. It may be really hard to speak about it, but just sitting with a counselor and letting them know you aren’t okay, even if you don’t want to talk, can start you down a good path.
Just know, you can’t always know what someone else will do. You are only accountable for your actions.