Disclaimer: I am not a mental health professional nor a doctor of any kind. That being said, I do have plenty of experience dealing with depression while away at school.Â
The path of life is not always straightforward; the transition from high school to college (or from break back to school) can flip your world upside down. You go from seeing your friends and family every day, to starting over and having to find a completely new support system. You go from having class every day, 8am to 3pm, to a lot more free time than you may have had in the past. Unfortunately, this makes depression, anxiety, and stress pretty regular occurences on college campuses.
Never fear! I have some simple suggestions that can help any collegiette keep smiling during the semester.
1. Stay active!
To quote one of my all time favorite movies, “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy!” Take it from Elle Woods, a classy lady whose pep never fades, exercise is a great and easy way to keep a positive attitude. Nothing beats the feeling you get after a challenging workout.
There is plenty of scientific evidence to prove that physical activity makes you happy. For example, exercise stimulates chemicals in your brain that leave you feeling more relaxed, delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues causing your heart and lungs to work more efficiently thereby giving you more energy, promotes better sleep, and relieves stress. Science!
2. Keep doing what you love
One of the biggest mistakes I made when starting college was not getting involved right away. I signed up for one, maybe two activities that did not take up a lot of time. Of course, it makes sense to start slowly; getting a handle on classes and adjusting to dorm life should be the first priority. However, by November of freshman year I found myself in a funk I just couldn’t shake off.
Like most Notre Dame students, in high school, I was entirely overscheduled – I wrote in the campus ministry newsletter, was president of the Latin Club, student directed plays, and managed the varsity swim team, not to mention all the service work and academic stuff. My first semester at ND, I had so much time on my hands, I was going crazy. Little by little, I began adding back in activities I had always loved doing and even though I’m overscheduled once again, I am so happy and wouldn’t have it any other way.
Yearbook: One of my favorite activities!
3. Make time for yourself.
There is a lot of pressure during freshman year to be spending time with your new friends and going out as often as possible. Our generation has severe FOMO – fear of missing out. Here’s a secret: you don’t have to be around for every inside joke or late night hang. You might actually benefit from staying in on a Saturday night and watching a movie rather than going out because you’re scared of what will happen if you miss one night with your friends.
It is essential that you take some time out of your busy schedule to relax and stay in tune with your own needs. Whether that be watching reruns of Friends or going to yoga, spend an afternoon with yourself and make sure you still like the person you are becoming.
4. Surround yourself with positive people and influences.
I really hate to sound like your mother, but you will eventually become a reflection of the people you spend your time with. If everyone around you is forever complaining about their roommates, classes, and RAs, you will look for things to complain about too. I’m not talking about the occasional rant session which we all need every now and then; I’m talking about the hardcore, never-have-anything-good-to-say “friend” whose gloomy disposition rubs off on everyone around her.
This also applies to sticking around people who are kind to others and to themselves. If you’re eating dinner with girls who can’t stop counting calories and talking about how they immediately need to hit up the gym, that behavior will begin to affect you as well, and maybe not for the better. Finding friendly faces among the many negative voices will definitely help you keep your frown upside down.
Me (far right) and the people who make me happy!
5. If things take a turn for the worse, seek professional help.
There is no shame in seeking professional help for a serious problem. In fact, I feel everyone can benefit from talking it out with a certified professional, whether or not he or she feels depressed or anxious. At Notre Dame, we have some incredible resources at the University Counseling Center that are only helpful to those who actually seek them out. Before even talking to an actual human being, you can check out the Inner Resource Room, which has an awesome light therapy box to keep you perky in the dark South Bend winters and prevent you from falling victim to S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). There is a massage chair, a Zen meditation clock, and a negative ion generator all to help improve your mood.
If that isn’t enough, scheduling an appointment is so easy. You call to set up a consultation, do an intake survey, and choose from a variety of counseling options. I swear I am in no way affiliated with the UCC, I just happen to know from experience that they are wonderful people who are genuinely concerned about the health of ND kids! Here’s the UCC website. This week is “Irish State of Mind” Week – a week dedicated to mental health awareness and education! Be sure to check out their events on the Student Government Facebook page.  (Update: 2014 Facebook Page!)
All in all, college is tough enough without having to deal with depression. Take care of yourselves, lovely readers! Â
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