Keep Your Spirits Bright — Facts to Know about Depression

You're finally college-bound and on your own. Although it's an exciting time, the transition to college can be stressful and overwhelming. If you're feeling blue, don't be hard on yourself. This is a big step. Moving away from family, friends and everything familiar to you can be difficult and lonely.

While it's normal to feel somewhat sad or anxious, if you continue to feel this way for several weeks at a time, you may be depressed. Being depressed is different from feeling homesick, missing your friends or being upset because you goofed on an exam-all of which tend to pass. Depression is a serious medical condition that can affect your body, mood, thoughts and behavior. It typically first appears during adolescence, and major life changes like going to college can sometimes trigger its onset.

Many women in college are depressed without even knowing it. A recent survey found half of all college students felt so depressed at points during the school year they had difficulty functioning, and 15 percent were clinically depressed. Another survey found 40 percent of college women often felt overwhelmed at school.

As a woman, you are more likely to suffer from depression-nearly twice as many women experience depression than men. Depression also tends to run in families. So, it may be worth asking your mom or dad whether anyone has dealt with this before.

If you're depressed, you probably feel as though a cloud has been cast over your enjoyment of college life. You may find it difficult to get out of bed in the mornings. Depression can interfere with your day-to-day functioning at college and can impact relationships with friends and family. It also can affect your appetite, sleep, energy level, thinking, self-esteem and physical well-being.

We all have days when we don't quite feel like ourselves and find it difficult to face the day ahead. However, the symptoms of depression are persistent. If you or someone you know is depressed, you may notice one or more of the following:

• Sustained sadness, anxiety, irritability or boredom
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed (hanging out with friends, pursuing hobbies)
• Noticeable changes in eating and sleeping habits (a lot more or a lot less)
• Withdrawal from family, friends and social activities
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or remembering and an inability to complete schoolwork
• Feeling guilt, hopelessness, emptiness
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, stomach upsets or pain that don't respond to treatment
• Recurrent thoughts of suicide

Be aware of your feelings. Are you having difficulty concentrating? Are you sleeping too much/not enough? Are you avoiding activities that normally interest you? If so, you should contact your student health/counseling service.

There are a number of things you or your girlfriends can do to cope with the stress of college and feelings of depression.

• Map out your day-This will help you prioritize and gain a sense of control over what you need to accomplish.
• Don't procrastinate-Find pockets of time during the day to get work done, so you're not burning the midnight oil. Not getting enough sleep can lead to depression.
• Talk openly with friends and family-They can be a tremendous support, and you'd be surprised how many of your friends may also feel sad and stressed.
• Exercise regularly-This can boost your body's natural mood-enhancing chemicals and reduce stress hormones.
• Get involved-Participate in campus activities that interest you (athletics, theater, community service clubs, sororities).
• Avoid alcohol, drugs or excessive caffeine-These substances only worsen depression.

Like diabetes and cancer, depression is a medical illness. No matter what some people might try to tell you, you cannot just "snap out of it." But you can get better. There are a number of treatments available for depression. If you think you might have a problem or know someone who does, seek professional help as soon as possible.

If undiagnosed or untreated, depression can lead to suicide-the second leading cause of death among college-age students. Ask and tell if you or someone you know have thoughts of suicide. Get help immediately by contacting the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433), your health care professional or emergency department. Among college-age women, depression is closely linked to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. You may be inclined to turn to alcohol or drugs to get a "high" or escape from the reality of how you feel, but these substances only make depression worse.

Depression should not be taken lightly, whether it's you or a friend who is suffering.

If you, your roommate or a friend is showing signs of depression, talk openly about it and seek treatment. Contact your primary care doctor or student health service to make an appointment. If you're worried about a friend, offer to go with her to see a health care professional or counselor.

During the visit, the health care professional will likely conduct a physical exam to check whether there are any other medical problems. Your provider may also send you to a psychiatrist who is specially trained in mental health. Most colleges have counseling services on campus.

Be honest about how you're feeling. This will help you and your provider determine whether psychological counseling, medication or a combination is needed. You can also come up with coping strategies to guard against depressive episodes.

• What can I do in addition to taking medication?
• How can I better manage my life at school?
• Is it important to figure out what triggers depressive episodes?
• A lot of people think this feeling will go away on its own. Is this true?
• Are there additional resources available on campus?

Resources

National Mental Health Association
1-800-969-6642
www.nmha.org

National Institute of Mental Health
1-866-615-6464
www.nimh.nih.gov

National Suicide Hotline
1-800-784-2433
www.hopeline.com

National Institute of Mental Health. "What Do These Students Have in Common?" (NIH Publication No: 00-4266) Published February 2000.

American Psychiatric Association. "College Mental Health Fact Sheet: Depression." http://www.healthyminds.org/cmhdepression.cfm.

National College Health Assessment Survey 2004, American College Health Association. www.acha.org.

National Mental Health Association. "Finding Hope and Help: The College Student and Depression Initiative." Accessed at http://www.ncstac.org/content/projects/college.htm.

Bhatia SC, Bhatia SK. Depression in Women: Diagnostic and Treatment Considerations. American Family Physician. July 1999 60(1).

National Mental Health Association. "Tips on Dealing with Depression in College." www.nmha.org.

National Institute of Mental Health. "Depression." (NIH Publication No: 02-3561). http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/nimhdepression.pdf. Reprinted September 2002.

National Mental Health Association. "Suicide and Depression." www.nmha.org