How To Deal With Depression At University
Depression at university is such a taboo subject these days. With more and more individuals attending university and leaving home for the first time ever, it can bring out a lot of unwanted and suppressed emotions. But life doesn’t have to be this way, and I’m not here to tell you to get out more or “to smile because it will be fine.” Instead, I’m here to guide you (hopefully) in the right direction and how to actually cope with depression. It is an illness that you’ll never see coming until one day you realize you’re exhausted. It’s not a feeling of sadness like most would stereotypically define it as. Instead, it’s a killer, it’s something much worse. This is the true sadness in it, but I’m not here to depress you, I’m here to help you with the facts. I’m here to help you find ways to live your life just a little bit better and cope. Even though you repeat to yourself you can’t, I’m here to tell you that you can.
1. Staying strong and finding your inner warrior.
The only strength you can seek is within you and only you. Strength is something that if you focus on it, you can build up your inner power and learn to take baby steps each day, slowly progressing until you begin to feel more comfortable. This is always easier said than done, but once you learn that, you can actually bring yourself to learn to love your inner self. And begin to smile on the inside and out, even at life’s little things.
2. Just breathe and keep going.
You need to push harder than you have in your entire life, and this is something that needs to be done on your own. Take each day one step at a time as this is not a race you need to finish. Another more rhetorical example is to take up some easy breathing exercises. This may seem like such a simple task but this is more effective than you can imagine. The breathing focuses on you and you alone because you are the most important person right now.
3. Communication.
Not everyone understands what depression is and to be real, unless you exercise it, no one will ever really understand. The best way to jump over this massive barrier is probably one of the hardest tasks you can ever do. It’s as simple as talking and communicating with those around you. Even if its unrelated, just talking in general can make you question yourself, and when this happens, it can either act as distraction or something just to feel different about. Just think about it, even for a minute or two it’s something to dwell on.
4. A joke a day can make you giggle life’s worries away.
Even though depression is no laughing matter, I’ve learned that just making one joke a day that either makes you smile or laugh out loud can be effective. I have used this technique on myself and others, and I feel that to be humorous brings all the best of you out. It makes you glow and shine, and when you look different, you begin to feel different. Depression at university isn’t cured this way, but it’s a step that brings you the simplest of joy in life; to exist. Next time you’re randomly sitting, think of a joke or tell it to friend. Obviously depression doesn’t come and go, but to overcome it’s state is to bring a more positive mental state to yourself.
5. Eat!
This one may seem confusing, but it’s actually a bright one. Eating is obviously an important part of life, and to not eat not only deteriorates your mental well being, but also physical. Depression at university can be a challenge, as you are forced to look after yourself and learn to cook. But sometimes cooking can open the door for new and exciting opportunities. Learn to cook and make time for yourself, cook with others, host parties, make this a collective invite as eating may be healthy to live, but also to live is to cook.
6. Attend classes.
Clearly the whole aspect of uni is to attend classes and learn to better yourself. Learn to educate and learn something new and interesting. It can be very easy to skip classes and take time out for yourself, which can be good, but too much time alone can be negative. Going to classes is less about distracting yourself, but more about bettering yourself one day at a time. Even one day you will take a step back and question yourself, and even begin to think differently. Bettering yourself means you have a new lease or focus on life in the short term that uni would be.
There are unlimited ways to deal with depression at university, however these are some steps which focus mainly on yourself, which is the most important theme here. Read and re-read these because hopefully they make simple sense and slowly by understanding you can adapt to find the method that helps you cope best.
As a side note, although this article is serious, there should also be an added element of humour, as life is very short but you shouldn’t have to cut it that way. Be you and be great!
Have you dealt with depression at university? Tell us how you cope in the comments below.
featured image source: weheartit.com
