College Concern: Helping Your Kids Manage Stress and Understand Depression

The college years have more to offer than learning and new experiences, they will also test how well students handle pressure. The busy and deadline-oriented nature of college puts students in an environment where stress is easily generated. Plus, the new relationships they develop and the expectations for success often shift those stressful feelings into ones of depression. Stress and depression are two debilitating afflictions that can do serious mental and physical harm to students. Teaching your kids how to combat this scourge will help ensure they have a healthy, active and successful college experience.

When Stress Strikes!
With school, socializing, work and various other activities, it’s no wonder that some students have difficulty managing their lives. The result is a feeling of being overwhelmed and always playing catch up, which leads to increased heart rate, inability to focus, anxiousness that keeps students from performing the tasks at hand, temperamental outbursts, restless sleep, and more. And the result of those symptoms will only add to stress, as the demands on students continue and they find themselves weighed down by their to-do list.

Talk with your kids about stress. When they feel it’s taking its toll, remind them to ask themselves if these are feelings they want to have. If not, it’s time to take action. Have them consider that being peaceful is the best antidote for stress and tell them to visualize what that would look like. Perhaps it involves engaging in a hobby like cooking, playing a sport, or just meditating. Exercise is another great way to reduce stress. According to a study published in the University of Texas newspaper, one 30-minute exercise session boosts mood and elevates the sense of well-being. Couple this with eating right and reducing caffeine, sugar and alcohol and your child will be waging a pre-emptive strike on stress.

Dealing with Depression
According to the National Institute on Mental Health, the symptoms of depression include sadness; anxiety or empty feelings; decreased energy; loss of interest in usual activities; sleep disturbances; weight gain or loss; feelings of worthlessness; thoughts of suicide; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; excessive crying; and chronic aches and pains not explained by a physical condition. They claim that if five or more of these symptoms persist for two weeks or longer, it’s important that students seek professional assistance.

Depression can derive from a variety of sources, but it usually comes down to a loss of control and uncertainty about the future. Being homesick, relationship issues and alcohol abuse are just a few of the triggers for college students. A new study conducted by National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI) and Abbott Laboratories found that one in three students reported having experienced prolonged periods of depression, while one in four students reported having suicidal thoughts or feelings. In a press statement, Ken Duckworth, M.D., assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and medical director for NAMI said, “The impact of untreated mental illness on a college student’s life can be devastating. Undiagnosed mental illness can cause people to withdraw socially, drop out of school, engage in substance abuse, or exhibit other unsettling behaviors.”

If you believe that your son or daughter is suffering from the symptoms of depression, it’s time to get involved. Support them in seeking the help they need to overcome these overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair. There is little doubt that college may be one of the first stressful and pressure-filled times of your child’s life. Keeping healthy is critical to getting through these anxious days. As for depression, the earlier they catch themselves spiraling into a depressive state the easier it is to address it, and get through it. Make sure the communication channels are open with your children, release any pressure you may put on them, and be vigilant for signs of increased anxiety.