Depression in College

[puppypancakes3]

I am extremely depressed, and having a very hard time keeping up with work in college. All I want to do is stay in bed and sleep. I have no motivation to do any of my work, or go to class. I haven't been to class in over a week, and feel overwhelmed with all of the assignments that I have not completed. Everything is building up, and the more time that passes, the more I lose my motivation. I'm beginning to lose the will to keep going. I just don't know how to move forward. I only have three weeks left, but it feels like forever. I don't want to do this anymore. I've been meeting with my team at the wellness center, and have been trying to explain to my professors that I am doing my best to keep up, but no matter how hard I try to keep going, it feels like I just can't move forward. How am I supposed to stay motivated, when it seems I've tried everything to keep going?

[Hidden]

I’ve been there. A million times before. I’m a career student.

I’ll share some of my study techniques with you if you’d like but how about I just start basic when was the last time you’ve eaten or bathed

[puppypancakes3 in reply to Hidden]

I would love some study techniques. I've been trying to stay consistent with eating and showering, and I have a boyfriend who is always pushing me up and out of bed, making me breakfast and telling me to go shower and get ready for the day. I gotta say, he is one of the only things in my life keeping me alive. I don't know where I would be without him. I have a really hard time getting to class and just starting on my work, so I would love to hear some ideas from you.

[mvillarreal]

I'm sorry to hear you're dealing with a rough patch. You mention that it's hard to stay motivated. Do you feel depressed? Is there anything in particular that might be triggering your depression?

[puppypancakes3 in reply to mvillarreal]

A lot of things have happened in the past that I associate with this time of the year, so I always have particularly bad episodes of depression beginning in the fall and through the winter. I think part of it is that my PTSD is triggered by an anniversary effect, and so I feel especially vulnerable. I have cried everyday for the past week, because something has triggered a thought or memory. It becomes impossible to focus on anything important.

[mvillarreal in reply to puppypancakes3]

Oh man! I'm sorry to hear that. That definitely sounds very difficult. Have you considered seeing a counselor to discuss some of these issues and how they are affecting you?

[NWGal]

Sounds like you're really fighting this thing. You should be proud of yourself for doing that. You just need that final push to the finish line. I have had severe depression all my life including while in undergraduate and graduate school. If you weren't so far along in the process I'd say withdraw and take some time off for mental health therapy. But, since you only have three weeks left think about the prize and what you've worked so hard for. I find sometimes I have to "fake" that I feel good. Sometimes doing what I would do if I felt good has a snowball effect of stimulating the brain to your "good place". Sending you good karma friend.

[puppypancakes3 in reply to NWGal]

"Fake it 'til you make it!" I honestly feel like I'm always faking it. I just want to get through to the next day. I seriously considered taking a gap year because I could feel my depression getting worse over the summer. I wish now that I had the courage to go through with it. I just wanted to keep my life on track, I wanted to graduate on time, not that it makes any difference. In fact, if I had taken the gap year, I probably would be doing a lot better in school after getting treatment. I'm really just doing my best to get by every day.

[NWGal in reply to puppypancakes3]

How about seeing a therapist while you're in school??

[puppypancakes3 in reply to NWGal]

I've been seeing a therapist at school since I was a first-year. I'm a senior now.

[Jimdubu]

It's very hard coming to the end of something ,that is all you have known for so long. You were mentioning that this was around an anniversary date of something bad that happened, and you feel depressed this time of year. Would you say that it is particularly bad this year. The reason I ask is that you have been a student for a long time, but now you are within three weeks of closing that chapter of your life , and move on to the next chapter. Sometimes our minds will try to sabotage our moving onto that next chapter, because of fear of what the future holds.

So lets look at it from a different perspective, instead of thinking back on the anniversary of something bad that happened, how about throwing that rear view mirror away and look ahead, and this time of the year can be about when you graduated and great things started to happen. Someone else asked if you see a therapist, but I didn't see an answer. If you don't here is a number for a place that can offer some free counseling advise,and can refer you to professionals in your area. 1-855-771-HELP (4357) Also here is some information on depression that might help bit.ly/2yc8nk5 . Congratulations for all your hard and taking the next step in life. Prayers for you.

[sadskies00]

I relate to this and feel the exact same way.

[Hidden]

Last month I applied for disability at my school. I haven’t used it yet even though I should, but it’s very helpful