College and Depression, Part 2

by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

(Page 2 of 2)

Medication usually is effective in controlling manic symptoms and preventing the recurrence of both manic and depressive episodes.

During a manic episode, I stayed awake for 5 days straight, but had a lot of energy. I spent my tuition on a major shopping spree and long distance phone calls. I also had sex with several guys that I hardly knew. At the time, I felt so great that I couldn't see that there were serious problems with what I was doing. - Teresa

Suicide

Thoughts of death or suicide are usually signs of severe depression. "If you're feeling like you can't cope anymore, or that life isn't worth living, get help," advised Darrel, a student who tried to kill himself during his freshman year. "Talking to a professional can get you past those intense feelings and save your life."

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:

• Staff at the student health or counseling center
• A professor, coach, or advisor
• A local suicide or emergency hotline (get the phone number from the information operator or directory)
• A hospital emergency room
• Call 911

If someone you know has thoughts about suicide, the best thing to do is help him or her get professional help.

"I'm back from the edge," Darrel continued. "Now that I've gotten some treatment, I know how to keep from being out there again."

Depression and Alcohol and Other Drugs

A lot of depressed people, especially teenagers, also have problems with alcohol or other drugs. (Alcohol is a drug, too.) 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, or
• 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 health care or 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.

Sharing your preferences and concerns with your treatment provider helps determine the course of treatment. Certain types of psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, can help resolve the psychological or interpersonal problems that contribute to, or result from, the illness. Antidepressant medications relieve the physical and mood symptoms of depression and are not habit-forming. In severe depression, medication is usually required.

Individuals respond differently to treatment. If you don't start feeling better after several weeks, talk to the professional you are seeing about trying other treatments or getting a second opinion.

Making a Decision

Don't let fear of what others might say or think stop you from doing what's best for you. Parents and friends may understand more than you think they might, and they certainly want you to feel better.

Taking the First Step

I knew I was depressed but thought I could pull out of it by myself. Unfortunately, friends reinforced this attitude by telling me to just toughen up. When that didn't work, I felt even worse because I had 'failed' again. When a friend suggested I talk to his counselor, I resisted at first. In my mind, professional help was for weak, messed up people. But then, I hit a bottom so low that I was willing to try anything. - John

I decided to try treatment when my friends got fed up with me. They didn't want to talk about my problems any more, but my problems were the major focus of my life. I needed someone who could help me understand what was happening to me. I'd seen ads for the counseling center and decided to give it a try. - Kim

When I began considering suicide, I knew I needed serious help. My resident advisor helped me call a local hotline where I got some good referrals. It was just a phone call, but it was the starting point that got me to the professional help I needed. - Leah

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 a Depressed Friend

The best thing you can do for a depressed friend is to help him or her get treatment. This may involve encouraging the person to seek professional help or to stay in treatment once it is begun. The next best thing is to offer emotional support. This involves understanding, patience, affection, and encouragement. Engage the depressed person in conversation or activities and be gently insistent if you meet with resistance. Remind that person that with time and help, he or she will feel better.

Helpful Resources

The professionals at a student health center or counseling service, the Resident Advisor in your dorm, your family health care provider, and your clergy can be helpful resources for getting treatment. You also might contact any of the following organizations in your area for mental health services or referrals:

• A community mental health agency
• A hospital psychiatric outpatient department or clinic
• A private or nonprofit counseling center
• Your local Mental Health Association

The telephone directory or information operator at your school or in your community, or a local hotline, should have telephone numbers for these and other mental health services.

Finding Affordable Treatment

People are sometimes reluctant to seek help because they are concerned about the cost of treatment. Services at college counseling centers are often low-cost or free. Also city or county mental health services are often offered on a "sliding scale" (the fee is based on your financial resources). Check out any health insurance you may have and see if it pays for private mental health services.

Is It Worth It? .......... Yes!!

Actually, while the depression was painful, working to get better has taught me a lot about who I am and how to stay healthy. -Marta

Getting treatment definitely changed my life for the better and helped me avoid flunking a semester. -John

About the Author

www.nimh.nih.gov
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is one of 27 components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal government's principal biomedical and behavioral research agency. NIH is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.