Student Health 101 General Health
A Reference Guide to Student Health
Mental Health
Depression
Anxiety
Eating Disorders
Depression
More severe than just occasional feelings of sadness that most people experience with the ups and downs of life, depression is characterized by persistent, uncontrollable sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness that last longer than two weeks. Women and men of all ages can be affected by this condition.
A combination of factors may cause depression. Stress, and an individual’s ability to cope with it, can play a major role. If someone in your family has a history of depression or mental illness, you may be more likely to become depressed. A change in brain chemicals may also be a source. Other factors include drinking alcohol or using drugs; a recent loss such as the death of someone close to you; poor performance in school; having a baby (post-partum depression); and experiencing a major illness.
Those who are depressed have persistent feelings of sadness and anxiety and lose interest in or do not enjoy their usual activities. Some people also may experience:
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Crying more easily than usual
- Insomnia or excessive sleepiness
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of interest in sex
- Frequent thoughts of suicide or death
Accepting a diagnosis of depression can be hard. It often helps to realize that it is a very common medical diagnosis. There are excellent treatments available that your physician can prescribe.
TREATMENT
Home Care
- Get enough sleep.
- Avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Exercise often and remain active in life.
- Eat a healthy, low-fat diet.
- Seek a support group.
Professional Care
Seek medical attention if:
- Symptoms of depression last longer than two weeks
- You are planning to hurt yourself or someone else
- You hear voices in your head
Anxiety
The daily course of life generates many situations where feeling worried or anxious is normal. However, when anxiety is overwhelming to the point that it adversely interferes with your ability to lead your daily life, it is cause to seek the advice of your physician.
Symptoms of anxiety can be triggered by stressful situations and/or specific fears. Normally symptoms last for only a short period of time, but their duration can vary. Symptoms of anxiety are:
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Muscle tension
- Sleep disturbances (especially falling to sleep)
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid/racing heartbeat
- Sweating
Behavioral modifications are an extremely useful way to manage anxiety. These modifications are specifically designed to help a patient cope with his/her anxiety.
They include:
- Exercise
- Avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
- Relaxation techniques
- Stress management techniques
- Hypnosis
- Desensitization
If behavioral modifications aren’t successful, further treatment of anxiety often includes individual psychological counseling or professionally led group therapy sessions. Medications may also be prescribed by your physician, but usually only after behavioral and counseling options have been exhausted. Seek advice from your physician regarding the appropriate course of treatment.
Eating disorders
At any given time, approximately 33% of the population in the United States report that they are dieting, despite being of normal weight. When dieting adversely affects a person’s health it is referred to as an eating disorder. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating are the most severe of the eating disorders. They can affect both men and women, but are more common in women in the teenage years.
Anorexia nervosa is a disorder involving self-starvation and distortion of body image. (Thinking you are fat when you are actually thin.) It manifests itself as refusing to eat, preoccupation with food, and excessive exercise. With bulimia nervosa, the patient eats food in excessive quantities and then uses laxatives or induces vomiting (i.e., purging). Binge eating is similar to bulimia nervosa, except that patients do not engage in purging behaviors. All these conditions can result in serious psychological, physiological, and gynecological problems.
If you engage in any of the behaviors described above, speak to a physician or other resources for guidance and counseling.