The death of a loved one, loss of a job or the ending of a relationship are difficult experiences for a person to endure. It is normal for feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to such situations. Those experiencing loss often might describe themselves as being “depressed.” But being sad is not the same as having depression. The grieving process is natural and unique to each individual and shares some of the same features of depression. Both grief and depression may involve intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities. They are also different in important ways. In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks. In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common. Distinguishing between them can help people get the help, support or treatment they need.
Depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. One in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can strike at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Depression is a gateway illness — It can lead to other serious mental disorders including: anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, and substance abuse.
One in four (25%) college students suffer from some form of diagnosable mental illness. According to the American Psychological Association 36.4% of college students suffer from diagnosed depression. Depression is the number one reason students dropout of school.
Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain likely caused by a combination of genetics, and biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include: feeling sad or having a depressed mood; loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed; changes in appetite; weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting; trouble sleeping or sleeping too much; loss of energy or increased fatigue; increase in purposeless physical activity or slowed movements and speech; feeling worthless or guilty; difficulty concentrating; and thoughts of death or suicide. Displaying some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that you are depressed.
Identifying these issues in others can be tricky, as students often downplay or simply never talk about something deeply bothering them, often due to insecurities, fear of standing out or embarrassment, and peers can easily misdiagnose one another, sometimes making matters worse. The stresses of being away from home, managing coursework, and finding a path can lead to intense feelings of inadequacy. College students may feel helpless, as if they are just going through the motions, especially when they realize they’re not having the fun everyone insisted they would. These feelings, left unchecked, can lead to depression. With that in mind, it is important to understand how to both recognize signs of depression and how to keep healthy.
Recognizing signs of depression in yourself and others is tricky. Those days when you or your friends feel down or less excited about getting out of bed should not be cause for alarm. However, when days become weeks and simply getting out of bed becomes a struggle are cause for concern. It is important to seek help from professionals for any level of depression, so if you feel your friend is at risk, gently encourage them to seek help and offer to accompany them, be it to a student health center or a doctor’s appointment. Depression can worsen or lead to a number of other mental illnesses if left untreated.
Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and possibly a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem. The evaluation is to identify specific symptoms, medical and family history, cultural factors and environmental factors to arrive at a diagnosis and plan a course of action. Treatments options include medication, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive therapy. Brain chemistry may contribute to an individual’s depression and may factor into their treatment. For this reason, antidepressants might be prescribed to help modify one’s brain chemistry. These medications are not sedatives, “uppers” or tranquilizers. They are not habit-forming. Generally antidepressant medications have no stimulating effect on people not experiencing depression. Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is sometimes used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used in along with antidepressant medications. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used for patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to twelve treatments.
A person can also attempt to treat themselves for depression, but this is not recommended. The best treatment will always come from a medical professional, but there are some ways in which a student might lower the likelihood of developing depression. These include looking after your body with physical activity, good food and sleep will also help you look after your brain. Examples of this are: sleeping in bed (and not in front of the television); keeping a bottle of water in the car or handbag; cutting back on alcohol and recreational drugs; and eating healthier meals. A student can also take some of the stress out of life. Students should learn to relax. Trying relaxing activities like yoga, meditation, muscle relaxation or a breathing techniques can help to reduce the likelihood of developing depression. It is good to have a daily routine and little things like, showering, making your bed, hanging the washing out. It is always important for students to remember to take holidays from work and get away from your everyday life.
Depression is a part of modern life. One in six adults will experience depression in their lifetime and one third of women will experience depression in their lifetime. It is likely that even if a person himself does not experience depression, they know somebody who has or is. For this reason, it is important for people to understand what depression is and what its not. It is important to know how to identify it in a friend and in themself and to know the proper treatments so the depression can be treated. Depression is a part of everyone’s life, so it is vital to have all the information available to rise above stigma to overcome depression and life the good life.