Severe depression in college

cheshire2
Wed, 14 Jan 2009 16:03:59 +0000

Jake, a large state university can be overwhelming socially. Making friends in that environment can be a challenge, especially for someone who is shy. Know that you are not alone in what you are feeling. All you have to do to prove this is to google “friends” or “lonely” on CC. You will also find a lot of good advice on this topic in the relevant posts.

Just because you are depressed does not mean you need antidepressants. Only a professional can make that diagnosis. Have you been open with whomever is counseling you at your school?

The fact that you posted on CC indicates that you might be at a turning point. Your realization that you are taking so many credits in order to have an excuse not to go out is also a good sign. Can you drop a course now? It would be great if you could free up some of your time. If you can, then force yourself to join a club or two, and then force yourself to go to it several times. Give yourself and others a chance to become friends. Friendship can take time.

Finally, talk to your parents about what you are going through. I am a parent, and I would definitely want my child to be honest with me about how things are going. Don’t be afraid to use your parents for emotional support by phone calls, etc. Your parents are the people with whom you don’t always need to act strong.