Depression and Anxiety

Do you feel like something is keeping you down?  Are you in a slump that you cannot get out of?  To understand how to make ourselves feel better, happier, and more relaxed we need to understand what it means to be depressed or anxious…

What does depression look like?

  • Loss of interest in normal daily activities- things that used to be exciting
  • Depressed mood or crying more than usual
  • Sleeping more or a lot less than usual
  • Concentration and energy may be much lower than usual
  • Losing or gaining weight
  • Agitated by small things
  • Fatigued and slowed down
  • Low self esteem, feeling bad about self and being self-critical

What does anxiety look like?

  • Excessive worrying most days
  • Difficulty controlling worry
  • Restless, keyed up or on edge
  • Difficulty concentrating or mind goes blank
  • Irritable and physically tense
  • Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or getting restful sleep
  • Panic or panic like symptoms in certain predictable situations
  • Development of elaborate rituals or thought-processes to manage anxiety
  • Difficulty taking tests, finishing assignments, socializing or talking to professors

Staying Healthy and Preventing Depression and Anxiety: 

  • What are your hobbies?  College seems to consume so much of our time that we lose time for our favorite hobbies.  Maybe this is a good time to adopt new hobbies or refresh old ones like painting, sewing, jewelry making, pottery, scrapbooking, woodwork, drawing or sketching, crafts, working out, reading, journaling, and more!
  • How often do you work out or exercise?  Exercise is a great way to burn away stress and release endorphins to make you feel better physically and mentally.  It can also help you sleep better!  Check out the fitness section!
  • If you don’t like going to the gym for exercise, try biking, rollerblading or swimming!
  • How is your diet?  Without healthy foods and a well balanced diet our body and brain cannot function at its peak!  Check out the nutrition section!
  • How much are you sleeping?  Getting 7-9 hours of sleep a night is important for our physical and emotional health.  Try to keep a consistent sleep schedule.  Check out the sleep section for more tips.

Getting Help: 

  • Many times our sad and anxious feelings can spill over and affect the most important parts of our lives, like school, friends and family.  This is a good indicator that we could use some help. 
  • Look below for different resources on and off campus available to BU students.
  • Helping a friend?  It’s common to feel embarrassed about addressing a friend’s anxiety or depression, but it is okay to bring the issue out in the open.  Your objective is to show your concern and offer assistance.  Consult with a counselor for some strategies on how to speak with a friend or family member you are concerned about.

Need more information? Check out these helpful resources:

 

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DEPRESSION? WANT TO HELP YOUR FRIENDS DEAL WITH SUCH ISSUES? WANT TO SPREAD AWARENESS REGARDING DEPRESSION?

Check out Depression and Anxiety Quick Facts

FEEL FREE TO USE AND SPREAD THIS INFORMATION AROUND CAMPUS!