Anxiety and depression among students

Depression and anxiety are prevalent problems among students. in the past 15 years, depression has doubled and suicide tripled, he said. According to a survey from the Anxiety Disorders Association of America(ADAA), universities and colleges also have seen an increase in students seeking services for anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 75 percent of all individuals with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before age 22. students deal with a unique amount of stressors. Specifically, students experience many firsts, including new lifestyle, friends, roommates, exposure to new cultures and alternate ways of thinking. If students do not feel adequate or prepared to cope with the new environment of a college campus, they could easily become susceptible to depression and anxiety.

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Depression is a medical condition that can affect a person’s ability to work, study, interact with people or take care of themselves. The first episode of depression often appears during the young adult years. Many factors can contribute to the onset of depression, including the presence of other emotional disorders, stress, poor nutrition, physical illness, personal loss and relationship difficulties.

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Depression isn’t always easy to spot. It may be expressed through the abuse of drugs and alcohol; sexual promiscuity; or hostile, aggressive, and risk-taking behavior. Some people may experience primarily behavioral changes, some mainly emotional changes, and still others mostly physical changes.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Persistently sad, anxious, irritable or empty mood
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, including sex
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Feeling tired or rundown
• Significant change in appetite and/or weight
• Anger and rage
• Overreaction to criticism
• Feeling unable to meet expectations
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Feeling restless or agitated
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Persistent physical symptoms such as headaches, digestive problems or chronic pain that do not respond to routine treatment
• Substance abuse problems
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Dealing with Depression

Medication and/or counseling can help. The majority (80-90%) of people who receive treatment for depression experience significant improvement, and almost all individuals gain some relief from their symptoms. However, if untreated, the symptoms of depression can last months to years if untreated. It is not uncommon for people who are depressed to think about suicide, and it is important to seek help immediately if you or someone you know is having these thoughts. If you think that you or someone you know may be depressed, contact your school’s health or counseling service.

Everyone feels anxious in certain situations, but anxiety disorders can make it difficult to function.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is a feeling of worry that can be a completely normal response to stress. However, it can also be out of proportion to what’s going on or be impossible to control. Anxiety can feel so overwhelming that a person’s ability to work, study, interact with people, or follow a daily routine is affected. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses.
Anxiety can be a real medical condition, developing from a complex set of biological and environmental factors, including genetics, biochemistry and traumatic life events. Generalized anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias are all types of anxiety d isorders.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Intense episodes of fear or panic
• Recurring nightmares
• Avoidance of social situations
• Difficulty concentrating
• Repeated, unwanted thoughts (obsessions)
• Sleep disturbances
• Upsetting, intrusive memories of a traumatic event
• Physical symptoms such as nausea, stomach pain, rapid heart rate, muscle tension, sweating, shaking, dizziness, numbness, or difficulty breathing

20 tips to tame your stress

1. Perform diaphragmatic or “deep breathing” exercises.
2. Lie face down on the floor and begin breathing deeply and slowly, with your hands resting under your face. Do this for five minutes.
3. Sit in a reclining chair. Put a hand on your abdomen and a hand on yo u r chest. As you breathe, make sure the hand on your abdomen is moving up and down rather than one on your chest. If the hand on your abdomen is moving you are breathing deeply and slowly.
4. Try progressive or “deep muscle” relaxation. Progressively tense and relax each muscle group in your body. Learn the difference between muscle tension and relaxation.
5. Meditate. Use visualization. Sit quietly with your eyes closed, imagining the sights, sounds and smells of your favorite place, such as a beach or mountain retreat.
6. Exercise regularly or take up yoga.
7. Consult a psychologist about the use of biofeedback.
8. Make time for music, art or other hobbies that help relax and distract you.
9. Learn to identify and monitor stressors. Come up with an organized plan for handling stressful situations. Be careful not to overgeneralize negative reactions to things.
10. Make a list of the important things you need to handle each day. Try to follow the list so you feel organized and on top of things. Put together a coping plan step by step so you have a sense of mastery.
11. Keep an eye on things that might suggest you’re not coping well. For example, are you smoking or drinking more or sleeping less?
12. Keep a list of the large and little hassles in your day versus the major stressful events in your life; this helps you focus on the fact that you’re keeping track of and managing those as well as you can.
13. Set aside a time every day to work on relaxation.
14. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, junk food, binge eating and other drugs.
15. Say no occasionally.
16. Get the right amount of sleep. For most people, this is seven to 10 hours a night.
17. Cultivate a sense of humor; laugh.
18. Research has shown that having a close, confiding relationship protects you from many stresses.
19. Don’t run from your problems! This only makes them worse.
20. Talk to your family and friends. See if they can help.

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