Anxiety and depression are common among college students. According to the report released by the American College Health Association Survey in 2017. A college student may be depressed to an extent that he or she thinks of taking away their life. Depression symptoms include: hopelessness, sadness, increased crying, increased drug use or abuse, changing sleeping and eating habits, and worthlessness among others. Fighting such symptoms is a challenge facing most college students.
Below you will find five tips that can help a college student fight depression.
Exercising
Exercising is one of the best methods that can be used to fight depression. Any form of physical activity enables the body to release endorphins-neurotransmitters. They are important as they trigger positive feeling that can fight depression naturally. Furthermore, mental health experts believe that moderate or mild depression can be easily and conveniently fought through exercising.
Avoiding being a hermit or loner
College students are at times depressed due to the nature of college workload. “Freshmen are always under pressure to adjust to the new system of learning and maintain good grades,” says Ashley Turner, Academic Counselor at APA Writing Service.
They may commit most of their time to studies to an extent that it causes depression. College is not just about studying, but balancing life, leisure, extracurricular activities and networking too. However, some students feel like they have no choice but to study most of the time.
In such cases, a student should not study alone, but involve others too. Most freshmen prioritize studies. But they should find a study group that can hold them accountable and boost their mood. Therefore, studying with others is one of the best ways that college students who prioritize studies may use to fight depression in colleges.
Using counseling services available in the school
Higher learning institutions have employed mental health experts to assist their students in developing mentally. Such experts are not employed by colleges to increase fees but to help students. Most college students hesitate to visit counseling centers in their schools, as they fear their peers may ridicule them. However, some institutions screen their students for mental health problems anytime they visit campus health clinics. Therefore, since college students pay for counseling services, they should not shy away from visiting the counseling centers.
Taking advantage of technology
Technological advancements have greatly boosted communication between family members and long time friends irrespective of the distance. Due to the introduction of mobile phones, Skype, and social media sites such as Twitter, and Facebook among others have made communicating so much easier.
Although it is important to make friends in colleges to avoid depression, it is also vital to use technology to keep strong bonds with old friends and family members. These are individuals we have known for long and understand us better than our new college friends. A college student may be going through hard time. But not be in a position to share it with his or her new found college friends as it may scare them off. However, their family and old friends may understand and help them overcome such situations.
“Therefore, keeping in touch with family members and old friends using the available technology is important in fighting depression in colleges,” explains Monica Burns, International Programs Advisor at ConfidentWriters.
Going to sleep
Psychologically, sleeping is important in warding off depression. Depressed college students should try to establish a regular sleeping pattern to fight depression. Most college students have irregular sleeping patterns due to late night studies and night parties. These are detrimental to mental health. Establishing a sufficient and regular sleeping pattern is not only important in memory formation and learning, but also in avoiding depression.
In summary, depression is a challenge facing most students in colleges. However, establishing a regular sleeping pattern, exercising, maintaining close bonds with friends and family members, avoiding being a hermit, and using available counseling services in colleges may be important in fighting depression in colleges.
Featured image via Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
