10 Reasons Depression Is Different For a First Year College Student

1.    It’s hard to tell if you’re homesick, or just sick in general
If you’re the kind of person who gets stressed by big life changes, or if your parents are a big source of support, feeling down your first year of college may mean you’re homesick, or need a little more time to adjust. It can be hard to know when you have crossed over from normal adjustment stress to something more.

2.    You wonder if you picked the wrong college
Applying and getting accepted to a good college is a long, arduous road. Feeling like an emotional basket case after you get there may leave you questioning the entire effort, wondering if you’ve made a terrible mistake.

3.    You can’t figure out whether you’re not cut out for college, or if you’ll feel better about school when the depression clears
Being depressed during the first year of college can leave you feeling like you’re not “college material,” especially if your depression results in missing classes, poor grades, or fantasies of dropping out. 

4.    You’ve been told college is the time of your life, and for you, it isn’t
You have probably been told college would be the best years of your life. You would love it! Now that you’re depressed, you can feel like the only person on campus who isn’t living the party life.

5.    You’re lonelier than you’ve ever been
When started college, you left almost all your friends from childhood behind. Now they are busy stating new lives someplace else and you’re surrounded by a sea of strangers.

6.    If college doesn’t work out, your entire life plan is down the drain
You had a plan: You’d go to college, major in your passion, and end up transitioning to your dream job after an internship and a couple of entry level jobs. If you can’t get through college, what does the future loo like.

7.    You don’t have an independent skill set to get you through
Young adulthood is all about developing a life-long skill set for coping. Getting depressed at the start of that process, before your toolbox of skills is full, can leave you more overwhelmed than you’d feel if the depression came a few years later.

8.    You don’t have a financial safety net for yourself other than your parents
You haven’t had time to build a little nest egg for a rainy day. If you need time off from school, you’ll probably have to go back home. 

9.    You’re afraid to scare your parents by admitting you’re having trouble
Your parents were ecstatic when you got into college and went off to live your dreams. You’re afraid they’ll be disappointed and worried to find out you’re having trouble.

10.    You think if you move back home, you’ll never be a functional adult
Returning to your childhood bedroom can feel like going back into childhood and losing your chance to start a life of your own.

When the Pace Gets Hectic, Reduce Stress

Every fall, daily life starts to run at a little faster pace. The start of school brings increased responsibility and hectic rushing from place to place for many families. For others, it means increases in traffic on the road, busy retail stores and restaurants, and increased stress everywhere. 

To reduce the stress:

Choose a sensible bedtime and stick to it.
    With the start of the school year, even households without children are likely to be waking earlier in the morning to beat the traffic. Rather than sacrificing much needed sleep, change up the evening schedule and get to bed a little bit earlier. As the days add up, all those extra hours of sleep will keep you physically and emotionally healthier.

Cut the screen time way back.
    Flashy screens are the enemy of mindful presence. In other words, when you’re staring at a screen, you’re in a kind of no-man’s-land, not quite here, not quite someplace else. Instead, try turning off the devices and tuning in to the present moment. Look your dinner companion in the eye. Watch the sunset. You’ll feel less stressed, and as a side benefit, your days will feel longer.

Maintain daily routines.
    Routines make us feel better. Whether that’s a daily morning walk, a spiritual devotional along with your cup of coffee, or sitting down to dinner at precisely 6 o’clock, sticking to a routine is comforting and reduces the stress of a faster paced schedule.

Slow down and make a plan.
    It may seem counterintuitive when you’re rushing around, doing too much, but sometimes the key is to just slow down. Taking a few minutes on the weekend to plan meals for the week and make a grocery list with that plan in mind, for example, can cut out a lot of daily stress. Stopping to plan can minimize the number of moments you’ll be running around like a chicken without a head, ineffectively managing everything.

Get back to basics.
    Does everyone in the family have clean socks? Is there bread for sandwiches, in case someone prefers to pack a lunch? Is the house in basic working order (not in disarray)? Minding the basic needs of the household first can reduce stress for everyone. Before you get fancy, do the little things.

Cut out the junk.
    Whether it’s food and beverage, or gossip news stories online, cutting out your unhealthy choices can reduce stress and add time to your busy day. If it runs your energy down, it’s probably junk that can go.