1、Depression and College Students What do these students have in common? When I took a part-time job and started living off-campus, my course work fell apart. I couldnt concentrate or sleep, and I was always IRRITABLE and angry. - Leah, sophomore year After two years of straight As, I couldnt finish a
2、ssignments anymore. I felt exhausted but couldnt sleep, and drank a lot . I couldnt enjoy life like my friends did anymore. - John, junior year Ive always been anxious and never had much confidence. College was harder than I expected, and then my parents divorced, which was traumatic for me. After a
3、 while, all I did was cry, sleep, and feel waves of panic. Marta,- freshman year They are college students who got depressed.got treatment.and got better. College offers new experiences and challenges. This can be exciting； it can also be stressful and make you, or someone you know, feel sad. When t
4、he 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. What is Clinical Depression? When we refer to depression in the following pages, we are talking
5、about clinical depression. Clinical depression is a serious medical illness。 Individuals with clinical depression are unable to function as they used to. People who suffer from clinical depression often report that they dont feel like themselves anymore. Clinical depression can affect your body, moo
6、d, thoughts, and behavior. It can change your eating habits, how you feel and think, your ability to work and study, and how you interact with people. Clinical depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness, or a condition that can be willed away. Clinically depressed people cannot pu
7、ll themselves together and get better. Depression can be successfully treated. With the right treatment, 80 percent of those who seek help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few weeks. People of all ages, genders, ethnicities, cultures, and religions can suffer from clinical
8、depression. Each year it affects over 17 million American men and women (source: American Psychiatric Association). While clinical depression is common, it is frequently unrecognized and untreated. There are different types and levels of clinical depression. Mental health counselors and psychiatrist
9、s are trained to diagnose and treat clinical depression. With the right treatment, most people who seek help get better within several months. Many people begin to feel better in just a few weeks. Types of Depressive Illness Depressive illnesses come in different forms. The following are description
10、s of the three most prevalent, though for an individual, the number, severity, and duration of symptoms will vary. Major depression is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. These episodes can occur once, t
11、wice, or several times in a lifetime. Symptoms include: _ Sadness, anxiety, or empty feelings _ Decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed down _ Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities _ Appetite and weight changes (either loss or gain) _ Sleep disturbances (insomnia, oversleeping, waking muc
12、h earlier than usual) _ Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness _ Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts _ Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, remembering _ Irritability or excessive crying _ Chronic aches/pain not explained by other physical condition A less intense ty
13、pe of depression, dysthymia , involves long-term, chronic symptoms that are less severe, but keep you from functioning at your full ability and from feeling well. In bipolar illness (also known as manic-depressive illness), cycles of depression alternate with cycles of elation and increased activity
14、, known as mania. How to Recognize Depression The first step in defeating depression is recognizing it. Its normal to have some signs of depression some of the time. But five or more symptoms for two weeks or longer, or noticeable changes in usual functioning, are all factors that should be evaluate
15、d by a health or mental health professional. And remember, people who are depressed may not be thinking clearly and may need help to get help. I kept asking myself, How could I be depressed? Id had a normal family life, had been getting good grades, and hadnt experienced any big trauma - where did m
16、y depression come from? (John) What Causes Depression? The causes of depression are complex. Very often a combination of genetic, psychological and environmental factors is involved in the onset of clinical depression. At times, however, depression occurs for no apparent reason. Regardless of the ca
17、use, depression is almost always treatable. Family History: Depression often runs in families, which usually means that some, but not all, family members have a tendency to develop the illness. However, sometimes people who have no family history also develop depression. Stress: Psychological and en
18、vironmental stressors can contribute to a depressive episode, though individuals react differently to life events and experiences. In coping with stress, some people find it helpful to write in a journal, exercise, or talk with friends. In clinical depression you need some form of treatment to start feeling better soon.
