<p>You can get six free sessions at Tang with a counselor who will help you gain a new perspective on the problems that are bothering you. You do not have to commit to anything other than one hour when you make an appointment so there is little risk in finding our if that will be helpful. There are different kinds of therapy and it sounds like “talk therapy” does not sound appealing to you. A therapist who uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy offers practical suggestions on how to make changes in your habits that allow you to move forward. In other words: actual actions you practice on a daily basis so you can feel better. Mild depression can turn into major depression if left untreated. All I can say is that it doesn’t hurt to try a counselor at Tang if you need suggestions on how to operate better at Berkeley from people who have a of of experience working with college students. Here are other things that studies show work as well as anti-depressants fro some people: 15 to 30 minutes of daily exercise, volunteering to help others, even eating bananas (3 or more per day) has been shown to raise seretonin levels! And, I do not remember if this is true or not, but can taking Omega 3 fish oil help? If you just want to connect with other students who may be feeling the stress of Berkeley, start your own Decal class on dealing with stress. Invite counselors or someone from the Dean of Student’s office to come in and offer tips on stress, healthy mental habits, and healthy socialization habits. Also, stop by the disabilities office and read their bulletin board- I think they offer workshops on stress management there that are probably open to all students. If not, they will direct you to other options. Berkeley can be a very stressful place for some. Good luck.</p>