Depression comes in a number of forms, and the most common are:
- Sadness; emptiness; hopelessness; worthlessness;
- Fatigue; loss of energy; loss of interest in activities;
- Change in appetite, weight, or sleep patterns;
- Thoughts of suicide;
- Irritability; anxious feelings; excessive crying; difficulty concentrating
First, it's important to recognize that you are not alone — in fact, 42% of college students experienced depression and feelings of hopelessness. It is not a personal weakness, but it can be hard to face alone. The good news is that it's very treatable and most students get better in a few weeks after getting help.
If you experience some or all of these symptoms then it's important to ask yourself, what are you doing to fix it? The best way to do this is to seek help, as there are many resources on and off campus that are designed to help you work through these difficulties. Professionals that help you deal with and manage depression include therapists, counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists.