Keeping up with assignments and getting good grades is difficult when college students are struggling with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Recent research shows that depressed college students are twice as likely to drop out of school.
Fortunately, there are some very effective methods that college students can employ as they attempt to cope with depressed feelings.
Depressed College Students More Likely to Drop Out
Research from the University of Michigan School of Public Health shows that different types of depression affect grade point averages differently.
There are two core symptoms of depression: 1) loss of interest and pleasure in activities; and 2) depressed mood. The first symptom – loss of interest – is associated with lower grade point averages. Depressed moods don’t affect college students the same way.
"The correlation between depression and academic performance is mainly driven by loss of interest in activities," Daniel Eisenberg, assistant professor and principal investigator of the study. "This is significant because it means individuals can be very depressed and very functional, depending on which type of depression they have. Lots of college students who have significant depression on some dimension are performing just fine, but may be at risk and go unnoticed because there is no noticeable drop in functioning."
Four Ways to Cope With Depression in College
- Figure out the cause of the depression. Are you feeling anxious or overwhelmed with assignments and exams (external triggers for depression)? Or, is it a physiological cause (some types of depression are caused by imbalanced hormones or brain chemicals - internal triggers). To treat depression effectively -- and do better in college -- narrow down the possible cause of the anxiety.
- Pull out of yourself. American actress Anne Hathaway describes how she coped with depression: “I’ve traveled. I’ve seen true suffering. And what I was dealing with pales when compared with what is really going on out there. So then it became not ‘Woe is me’ but ‘Let me help you.’ That changed everything. I was seeing myself as a victim, but I’m in a position of power, and now I’m going to make up for lost time.” As a college student, you can’t travel – but you don’t have to leave your city to “pull out of yourself”! You can volunteer with homeless people or underprivileged children.
- Explore natural treatments for depression. In The Brain Wash, Michelle Schoffro Cook describes two natural treatments for depression: St John’s wort and ginkgo biloba. “St John’s wort is particularly effective for depression, particularly for mild to moderate symptoms without the side effects often associated with drugs,” writes Cook.
- Increase your Omega-3 fatty acids, B-complex vitamins, fish oil supplements, and multivitamins and minerals can lift moods and treat depressed feelings. Talk to the doctor at your college to discover if these natural remedies can interfere with antidepressants or other prescription medications.
The biggest hurdle for college students with depression is finding the energy to get help! When depression is treated, college life — getting good grades, not dropping out — is easier and more enjoyable.
Related Reading
To learn more about treating depression, read Resources for Overcoming Depression. To improve your grades as a college student and improve your overall experience at school, go to 10 Helpful Articles for College Students or Resources for Brain Health, Memory, and Cognition.
Sources:
- ScienceDaily (July 7, 2009). “Students With Depression Twice as Likely to Drop Out of College.”
- Quips and Tips for Achieving Your Goals. (August 2, 2008). “Natural Treatments for Depression.”
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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