by Keith Milligan

According to current statistical research, it is estimated that 5% of Americans - some 15 million people - suffer from it at a given time. Americans spend billions of dollars yearly to combat it and it is seen as a major contributor to suicidal behavior. What is "it?" "It" is DEPRESSION. In light of the recent suicide on our campus we at the counseling center would like to help you understand depression better and share some commonly respected ideas on coping if you or someone you know is feeling depressed.

Are your low feelings the blues or something beyond the blues? That diminished sense of energy and mildly depressed mood that sometimes sets in are blues you can beat. According to the Rider University Counseling Center, below are some do's and don'ts for combating the blues:

DON'T:

• over do the caffeine
• overindulge in comfort foods
• turn to alcohol and other drugs
• isolate yourself
• accept a bad mood and wallow in it
• blame others or take out your bad mood on them

DO:

• get a reasonable amount of rest
• eat well (protein and carb's to boost energy without a "crash")
• exercise (even a 15 minute walk)
• add small pleasures—savoring a cup of tea, calling an old friend...Plan them into your schedule
• stimulate the senses—eat spicy food, listen to powerful music, dance energetically, wear bright colors, take a very long hot bath, or a cold shower.
• do something for someone else—call your grandma, do your roommate a favor, smile and say "hi" to people you don't know

Sometimes, however, depression is beyond the blues. People often describe themselves as "depressed" in many different ways and for many different reasons. For example, "I got my exam back, I'm depressed." "My girlfriend and I broke up, I'm depressed." According to the Rider University Counseling Center, real (clinical) depression is more than the previously described sadness or grief, which is more part of the ups and downs of daily life. With real depression, one might find it hard to move through daily life after a poor exam grade or break-up with a partner. Contrastingly, one might feel depressed a significant amount of the time and have no explanation for it. People who are depressed often say "I have no reason to feel this way, my life is good" or "Even though I know the world is full of color, everything looks gray to me." The very fact the feelings seem to come out of the blue may suggest clinical depression.

As depression becomes more serious, one is likely to experience physical symptoms such as: restlessness, the inability to sleep or a need to sleep excessively, fatigue, appetite changes, crying spells, an inability to enjoy normally pleasurable activities, feelings of worthlessness, inability to concentrate, indecisiveness, or thoughts of suicide.

Here are some things that researchers believe about the causes of depression. Some people are predisposed to experience depression. If there is a history of depression in your family, you may be more likely to become depressed. For some people, depression is a reaction to excessive stress. For example, suffering a great deal of stress in many different areas of your life (home, school, work, etc.) may trigger depression. Finally, some people seem to get "stuck" when dealing with a difficult negative experience and move from sadness to depression.
Is there some good news about all of this? There is. According to the Rider University Counseling Center, for many people, depression runs its course and they start to feel well again. Others seek counseling and it is clear that counseling can help people manage depression and often shorten the depressive cycle. Finally, for those with more serious forms of depression, existing antidepressant medications can be very helpful.

If you feel that you may suffer from depression or feel that you may want to hurt yourself in any way please call us to make an appointment at Lawrenceville (609-896-5157) or Princeton (609-921-7100 x8275).