College Students and Depression

Common Signs, Symptoms, and Experiences

Apr 14, 2007 Naomi Rockler-Gladen

Students Who are Depressed Should Seek Help - Gabriella Fabbri, Stock Xchange
College is a stressful time, and depression is common among students. Here are some signs and
symptoms that a college student is depressed.

Campus life can be overwhelming, and it's very common for college students to become
depressed. Depression is a powerful feeling of hopelessness, gloom, and sadness that afflicts
millions of people. It's more than just a "gloomy mood," but rather a persistent funk that you
can't control and that disrupts your ability to function in your everyday life.

According to the World Health Organization, depression affects about 121 million people
worldwide. While many people suffer from chronic depression, others suffer from bouts of
depression during difficult times in their lives.

What should college students know about depression?

First of all, if you are feeling depressed, seek help. There's no reason to suffer when help is
available. Contact your campus counseling center and set up an appointment as soon as possible.
Campus health centers are staffed with people who work with students all day, and they are very
well versed in the kinds of problems and concerns that students typically face.

If you are feeling suicidal or think you might do harm to yourself, seek help immediately. Either
go directly to the campus counseling center, call their emergency hotline, or call emergency
services. If you live in a dorm, tell a residence hall assistant what's going on and he or she will
help you. If someone around you is suicidal, you should get them help immediately as well.

You should never feel ashamed about being depressed. Often, depression is caused at least in
part by a chemical imbalance or a genetic predisposition to depression. But even if your
depression doesn't have one of these more physical causes, you have nothing to be ashamed
about. Depression is a very common human experience and is not a sign of weakness.

Why do college students get depressed?

Some college students get depressed for the same reason that people get depressed in the general
population-- chemical imbalance, genetics, a history of abuse, family problems, the death of a
loved one, a traumatic event in one's past, and many other reasons as well. The onset of
depression often happens when someone is in their late teens and early twenties-- right during
the college years. Factors in a typical college student's lifestyle can help cause and contribute to
depression, including:

Read on 

College Student Health Tips

Your college life will be more rewarding if you learn to work in healthy habits into your routine.
Here are some basic student health tips to help you feel your best.

 The stressful experience of trying to balance classes, work, social life, and other
conflicting expectations.
 Uncertainty about money.
 Uncertainty about the future after college.
 Homesickness and the experience of leaving one's family for the first time.
 Problems with romantic and sexual relationships, which many students are experiencing
for the first time.
 Sleep deprivation and poor sleep habits.
 Poor diet and exercise habits.
 Alcohol (especially binge drinking) or drug abuse
 Sexual assault, which is a common problem on college campuses.
 Eating disorders, another common problem.
 The anxiety of coming out to family and peers as a homosexual, another common college
experience.
 Dorm and friendship "drama."

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

The symptoms of depression can vary quite a bit. Here are some common ones:

 An overwhelming feeling of sadness or despair

 A feeling of hopelessness and that "it's never going to get better"
 A loss of interest in activities that typically make you happy
 Physical aches and pains, such as back pain, that seem to have no cause
 Appetite changes
 Excessive weight loss or gain over a short period of time
 Fatigue
 Lack of motivation
 Sleep disturbances (either insomnia or the desire to sleep excessively)
 Strong feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or low self-esteem
 Strong feelings of anxiety
 Trouble with concentration
  Thoughts of death or suicide (seek help immediately!)

What should a student do who feels depressed?

Again, seek help ASAP, and seek help immediately if you feel suicidal or feel you might harm
yourself. Depression is treated with talk therapy and sometimes with medication, and your
school's counseling center can help you cope with this common student problem. Don't delay!
Take care of yourself and get the help you need. You deserve it.

Read more at Suite101: College Students and Depression: Common Signs, Symptoms, and
Experiences
http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/college_students_and_depression#ixzz0uzWY
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The general definition of depression is a psychological disorder that affects a person's mood
changes, physical functions and social interactions. In order to know how to treat depression
in any one patient, professionals must understand the root causes of it for the particular
individual. Depressive symptoms vary greatly from person to person as well as do the causes.
As a result, treatment protocols are varied and depend on the fundamental philosophy of each
medical or psychological professional. That is why it is very important to find help that is
based on a sound understanding of all the issues involved in the oftentimes complicated topic
of depression.

Almost all academic understanding about the definition of depression is based on a medical
model that assumes all depressive symptoms are fundamentally the presentation of an
'illness'. Much like the presentation of any common physical illness in an individual that can
be tested and treated by scientific methods, protocols regarding how to treat depression from
the same medical model has been formulated over the years. It is considered a mental illness
and is listed as such in modern organizations such as the National Institute of Mental Health
and the American Psychiatric Association. There are overlapping psychological and physical
issues that are agreed to be causative factors by most professionals.

Since the definition of depression includes the consideration of physical aspects that may
play a role either as causative or resultant factors, it is hard to define whether the 'dog wags
the tail or the tail wags the dog' in many case studies. This has led to a disagreement at times
between secular and Christian philosophies that include the diagnosis and treatment for
depression. The secular world view tends to state that depression is an illness thereby
implying that there is relatively little human responsibility in dealing with the symptomatic
behavior associated with the problem. On the other hand, some philosophies that purport to
embrace a Christian world view can further burden a suffering person's guilt and
condemnation while neglecting to include all causative factors.

Professional counselors, medical doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, pastors and Christian

leaders can all be found that have varying viewpoints on the definition of depression as well
as how to help those who suffer. For those who deal with depression in a family member or
in themselves and want help in coping, there are some general tips to keep in mind while
looking for the best treatment for depression. First, determine if symptoms such as
hopelessness, sadness, fatigue, lethargy or inability to function continue for over two
consecutive weeks. Of course, if there are any acute symptoms such as suicidal thoughts and
complete disconnection from reality, it is wise to get crisis help immediately through a
hospital or doctor's office. For those who experience symptoms for over two weeks, help
should be sought out in order to deal with the underlying causes.
 A general way to determine if depressive episodes are related to physical or emotional
problems is to determine if there are any circumstantial factors that spurred the onset. For
those who have had a death in the family, job loss, family disappointments, shattered
aspirations or other tragic circumstances, extreme moodiness and inability to function can be
most likely related to reactions to circumstantial factors. "He healeth the broken in heart, and
bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) If, however, a depressive episode occurs without
any change to routine circumstances in a person's life, many professionals suggest that a
thorough health examination should be the start of protocols on how to treat depression in
these patients. Some depressive symptoms are related to body changes due to hormones,
hyperthyroidism, and certain diseases or illnesses. Many times, patients who are properly
treated for their physical problems will return to their usual state of personality and may need
no further treatments. Other individuals may struggle with personal or relationship issues that
slowly draw them into a state of depressive responses which can be mild or severe.

There are counselors, pastors and other professionals who understand how to assist people in
discovering the wellspring of relief that can be found by applying biblical principles to daily
living. This can be a very viable and successful understanding of how to treat depression in
those who properly respond. Sometimes depressive symptoms are so severe that they can
cause physical problems to occur such as digestive problems, a suppressed immune system,
pain and headaches. A complicated overlap occurs when it's hard to determine if depression
has caused a physical illness or a physical illness is causing depression. There are Christian
clinics and medical professionals that specialize in combining the application of spiritual
principles and physical treatments to the total person. Many times in advanced cases of
depressive disorders, hospitalization or outpatient therapy is needed to initially stabilize the
person for subsequent follow up over a period of time.

For more information: http://www.christianet.com/depression

What are the causes of depression?

Some types of depression run in families, indicating that a biological vulnerability to depression
can be inherited. This seems to be the case, especially with bipolar disorder. Families in which
members of each generation develop bipolar disorder have been studied. The investigators found
that those with the illness have a somewhat different genetic makeup than those who do not
become ill. However, the reverse is not true. That is, not everybody with the genetic makeup that
causes vulnerability to bipolar disorder will develop the illness. Apparently, additional factors,
possibly a stressful environment, are involved in its onset and protective factors are involved in
its prevention.

Major depression also seems to occur in generation after generation in some families, although
not as strongly as in bipolar I or II. Indeed, major depression can also occur in people who have
no family history of depression.

An external event often seems to initiate an episode of depression. Thus, a serious loss, chronic
illness, difficult relationship, financial problem, or any unwelcome change in life patterns can
trigger a depressive episode. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and
environmental factors is involved in the onset of a depressive disorder. Stressors that contribute
to the development of depression sometimes affect some groups more than others. For example,
minority groups who more often feel impacted by discrimination and are disproportionately
represented. Socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have higher rates of depression compared
to their advantaged counterparts. Immigrants to the United States may be more vulnerable to
developing depression, particularly when isolated by language.

Regardless of ethnicity, men appear to be particularly sensitive to the depressive effects of

unemployment, divorce, low socioeconomic status, and having few good ways to cope with
stress. Women who have been the victim of physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, either as a
child or perpetrated by a romantic partner are vulnerable to developing a depressive disorder as
well. Men who engage in sex with other men seem to be particularly vulnerable to depression
when they have no domestic partner, do not identify themselves as homosexual, or have been the
victim of multiple episodes of antigay violence. However, it seems that men and women have
similar risk factors for depression for the most part.

Nothing in the universe is as complex and fascinating as the human brain. The 100-plus
chemicals that circulate in the brain are known as neurochemicals or neurotransmitters. Much of
our research and knowledge, however, has focused on four of these neurochemical systems:
norepinephrine, serotonin, dopamine, and acetylcholine. In the new millennium, after new
discoveries are made, it is possible that these four neurochemicals will be viewed as the "black
bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood" of the 20th century.

Different neuropsychiatric illnesses seem to be associated with an overabundance or a lack of

some of these neurochemicals in certain parts of the brain. For example, a lack of dopamine at
the base of the brain causes Parkinson's disease. Alzheimer's dementia seems to be related to
lower acetylcholine levels in the brain. The addictive disorders are under the influence of the
neurochemical dopamine. That is to say, drugs and alcohol work by releasing dopamine in the
brain. The dopamine causes euphoria, which is a pleasant sensation. Repeated use of drugs or
alcohol, however, desensitizes the dopamine system, which means that the system gets used to
the drugs and alcohol. Therefore, a person needs more drugs or alcohol to achieve the same high
feeling. Thus, the addicted person takes more substance but feels less and less high and
increasingly depressed.

Certain medications used for a variety of medical conditions are more likely than others to cause
depression as a side effect. Specifically, some medications that are used to treat high blood
pressure, cancer, seizures, extreme pain, and to achieve contraception can result in depression.
Even some psychiatric medications like some sleep aids and medications to treat alcoholism and
anxiety can contribute to the development of depression.

Many mental-health conditions or developmental disabilities are associated with depression as

well. Individuals with anxiety, substance abuse, and developmental disabilities may be more
vulnerable to developing depression.

The different types of schizophrenia are associated with an imbalance of dopamine (too much)
and serotonin (poorly regulated) in certain areas of the brain. Finally, the depressive disorders
appear to be associated with altered brain serotonin and norepinephrine systems. Both of these
neurochemicals may be lower in depressed people. Please note that depression is "associated
with" instead of "caused by" abnormalities of these neurochemicals because we really don't
know whether low levels of neurochemicals in the brain cause depression or whether depression
causes low levels of neurochemicals in the brain.

What we do know is certain medications that alter the levels of norepinephrine or serotonin can
alleviate the symptoms of depression. Some medicines that affect both of these neurochemical
systems appear to perform even better or faster. Other medications that treat depression primarily
affect the other neurochemical systems. The most powerful treatment for depression,
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), is certainly not specific to any particular neurotransmitter
system. Rather, ECT, by causing a seizure, produces a generalized brain activity that probably
releases massive amounts of all of the neurochemicals.

Women are twice as likely to become depressed as men. However, scientists do not know the
reason for this difference. Psychological factors also contribute to a person's vulnerability to
depression. Thus, persistent deprivation in infancy, physical or sexual abuse, clusters of certain
personality traits, and inadequate ways of coping (maladaptive coping mechanisms) all can
increase the frequency and severity of depressive disorders, with or without inherited
vulnerability.

The effect of maternal-fetal stress on depression is currently an exciting area of research. It

seems that maternal stress during pregnancy can increase the chance that the child will be prone
to depression as an adult, particularly if there is a genetic vulnerability. It is thought that the
mother's circulating stress hormones can influence the development of the fetus' brain during
pregnancy. This altered fetal brain development occurs in ways that predispose the child to the
risk of depression as an adult. Further research is still necessary to clarify how this happens.
Again, this situation shows the complex interaction between genetic vulnerability and
environmental stress, in this case, the stress of the mother on the fetus.