College offers new experiences and challenges. This can be exciting--it can also be stressful and make you, or someone you know, feel sad. But when "the 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?
Clinical depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, 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 "pull themsleves together" and get better. Depression can be successfully treated by a mental health professional or certain health care providers. 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.
Types of Depressive Illness
Depressive illnesses come in different forms. The following are general descriptions 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 impairing episodes of depression can occur once, twice, or several times in a lifetime.
Symptoms of Major Depression
A less intense type 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 biopolar illness (also known as manic-depressive illness ), cycles of depression alternate with cycles of elation and increased activity, known as mania.
How to Recognize Depression
The first step in defeating depression is recognizing it. It's normal to have some signs of depression some of the time. But five or more symptoms for 2 weeks or longer, or noticeable changes in usual functioning, are all factors that should be evaluated 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.
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 cause, 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. On the other hand, sometimes people who have no family history also develop depression.
Stress - Psychological and environmental stressors can contribute to a depressive episode, though individuals react differently to life events and experiences. In coping with stress, some people find writing in a journal, exercising, or talking with friends helpful. But in clinical depression you need some form of treatment (usually medication and short-term psychotherapy) to start feeling better soon.
College and Stress
Common stressors in college life include:
Psychological make-up can also play a role in vulnerability to depression. People who have low self-esteem, who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism, or are readily overwhelmed by stress may be especially prone to depression.
Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
Bipolar disorder is a type of depressive illness that involves mood swings that go from periods of depression to periods of being overly "up" and irritable. Sometimes the mood swings are dramatic or rapid, but most often they occur gradually, over several weeks. The "up" or manic phase can include increased energy and activity, insomnia, grandiose notions and impulsive or reckless behavior, including sexual promiscuity. Medication usually is effective in controlling manic symptoms and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.
Suicide
Thoughts of death or suicide are usually signs of severe depression. Suicidal feelings, thoughts, impulses, or behaviors always should be taken seriously. If you are thinking about hurting or killing yourself, SEEK HELP IMMEDIATELY. Contact someone you trust to help you: a good friend, academic or resident advisor, or:
Depression and Alcohol and Other Drugs
A lot of depressed people, especially teenagers, also have problems with alcohol or other drugs. Sometimes the depression comes first and people try drugs as a way to escape it. In the long run, drugs or alcohol just make things worse. Other times, the alcohol or other drug use comes first, and depression is caused by: the drug itself, withdrawal from it, or the problems that substance use causes. And sometimes you can't tell which came first...the important point is that when you have both of these problems, the sooner you get treatment, the better.
Getting Help - Treatment Works
If you think you might be depressed, discuss this with a qualified mental health professional who can evaluate your concerns. Bring along an understanding friend for support if you are hesitant or anxious about the appointment. Several effective treatments for depression are available and can provide relief from symptoms in just a few weeks. The most commonly used treatments are psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, or a combination of the two. Which is the best treatment for an individual depends on the nature and severity of the depression.
Help Yourself: Be an Informed Consumer
Don't give in to negative thinking - Depression can make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless and hopeless, making some people want to give up. Remember, these negative views are part of the depression, and will fade as treatment takes effect.
Take an active role in getting better - Make the most of the help available by being actively involved in your treatment and by working with a qualified therapist or doctor. Once in treatment, don't hesitate to ask questions in order to understand your illness and the way treatment works. And, if you don't start feeling better in a few weeks, speak with the professional you are seeing about new approaches.
Be good to yourself while you're getting well - Along with professional help, there are some other simple things you can do to help yourself get better, for example: participating in a support group, spending time with other people, or taking part in activities, exercise, or hobbies. Just don't overdo it and don't set big goals for yourself. The health care professional you are seeing may suggest useful books to read and other self-help strategies.
Helping Someone Who is Depressed
The best thing you can do for a depressed friend is to help him or her get treatment. The following are useful listening techniques when helping someone who is depressed:
If you have a friend who you believe is denying serious depression, you may want to speak to a mental health professional about how to proceed.
For more information about depression, contact the Wellness Center.