Symptoms of Depression
Some of the symptoms of depression can be observed directly at the University. Their occurrence should be a signal to other Students and Lecturers that something might be bothering their friend or student.
Symptoms suggesting that a student may struggle with depression include:
- Avoiding company, going to student parties, pubs
- Decreased concentration, learning problems
- Outbursts of anger, irritability, tearfulness, lack of control over emotions
- Giving up easily
- Withdrawing into oneself
- Excessive sleepiness or insomnia
- Eating habits different than before - suddenly begins to overeat
- or stops eating
- Feeling of exhaustion, decreased efficiency and increased self-doubt
- Self-reluctance, which in some cases results in desire to take one's own life
- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs as a way to feel better
- Self-multilation
- Palpable emotional tension, physical discomfort, pain and low self-esteem
- Sudden deterioration in academic performance
- Decrease in activity in the classroom
- Loss of interest in the subject
- Skipping classes frequently
- If your friend from the University says that he/she:
- Suffers from frequent mood swings,
- Feels unspecified fear of the unknown ground - does not know what he/she is afraid of but is afraid,
- Feels stressed out,
- Is exhausted and has the feeling of chronic fatigue,
- Can not cope with his/her own life and with increasing problems,
- Wants to give up and leave everything,
- Says that nothing makes sense, and feels that he/she is hopeless,
- Blames himself/herself for all the failures.
This may be a sign of symptoms, do not ignore them!