In higher educational institutions, students come with a certain amount of knowledge, skills, abilities, and stereotypes of behavior and attitudes, concerning their interaction with teachers. Students become attached to the idea, that the teachers and parents are interested in their success. However, students tend to be more independent, and interested in their own success, for one simple reason: independence is the main aspect of the individual’s will development, and therefore, knowledge comes not just because of it, but through increased internal work and, as a result, of passing through life crises and conflicts.
The statistics show that almost a half of college and university students have serious psychological problems, and depression and anxiety are the most frequent diagnoses among students. The cultural phenomenon of perfectionism and extra responsibility in the United States gave birth to a new generation of children and their parents, who are fixed on the success but do not know how to lose.
Therefore, anxiety, low self-esteem, frequent depressions for introverts, and irritability for extroverts increase. However, since introverts and extroverts do not exist in the pure form, it can be said, that all of the disorders, mentioned above, affect almost all freshmen. Often they are the first cause of poor academic performance.
Fighting anxiety and depression is not easy. But, it is possible! Here are 7 ways to fight depression.
1) Meditation
Scientists have proved that meditation activates areas of the brain that are responsible for self-control and pleasant emotions. Meditation programs that are used in psychotherapy (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, etc.) show tremendous results in getting rid of the depression. If you ask yourself “How to fight depression and anxiety?”, meditation is an efficient way.
2) Love Yourself
Often, depression makes people hate themselves and doubt their own abilities or skills. Therefore, try to concentrate only on your positive qualities and on how you can help others, instead of cherishing self-hatred and self-flagellation. Depression is a state which most of us pass during our life. Loving yourself improves relations with others. Loving yourself means self-acceptance. If you treat yourself well, you will treat others well. The more you accept yourself, the easier it will be for you to accept other people, and focus on them.
3) Visualization
Visualization is the creation of desired reality images in your imagination. This is one of the most powerful tools for achieving your goals. Visualization is a basic technique, which helps to get rid of your depression. Dreams and fantasies are examples of visualizing your desires. Imagine what you want to achieve every day in all details, and you will definitely get what you want!
4) Daily Exercise
That is a great way how to deal with depression in college. Body movement will give your head time to rest. Scientists have proved that physical exercises help to reduce feelings of anxiety and ease depression. For example, you can do yoga, swimming, walking or cycling every day. However, it is not as you are trying to lose weight. Do not make daily exercises become your punishment. Concentrate on pleasant sensations during exercising, on how your heart beats, and breathing accelerates. Moreover, you can find a partner to exercise together. It can be really fun!
5) Help Others
Here is another way how to not be depressed in college. Do good things and help others to solve their problems, like this site does. In this way, you will not have time to be stressed and have evil thoughts, while you are busy helping others.
6) Take Vitamins
Among the causes of depression, there is a banal lack of vitamins. The fact that the lack of vitamins causes depression was scientifically proven. Nevertheless, self-medication is not desirable; vitamins should be prescribed only by an experienced doctor. It is important to remember that depression is not just a bad mood, which happens to everyone and regularly. Depression, in fact, is a disease that needs to be treated. The longer a person delays the treatment, the harder it will be for this person to get out of this condition.
7) Smile
Wake up in the morning, and welcome your reflection in the bathroom mirror with a smile. Smile causes a certain physiological reaction – you automatically become happier! Every time you frown, or when tears come to your eyes, smile to yourself and say, “I love myself.”
