Being enrolled in college can sometimes inflict a heavy dose of unwanted stress upon a person. However, if someone is persistently feeling sad, anxious and hopeless for a span of two weeks or more, the issue may be more than typical college stressors. At this point, the individual may have crossed the threshold of depression.  
“A big indicator [of depression in college students] is not going to class as much. That’s what I see,” said Annette Baldwin, a licensed counselor at the University Counseling Center. “A lot of people would complain of brain fog. People complain about [not being able to] sleep or that they wake up a lot.”
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, other symptoms of depression include lack of energy, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, changes in appetite, difficulty concentrating or thoughts of suicide.
Depression can arise from a vast array of situations, including family issues and genetic predispositions. Counseling and drug therapy can be effective in treating and preventing depression.
“Counseling is an objective person looking at that person’s life and life situations and possibly identifying the triggers to that situation and helping them improve and cope effectively,” said Baldwin.
Research shows that many depressed individuals have lower levels of neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, according to Baldwin. Most antidepressants act as reuptake inhibitors, keeping these neurotransmitters from being reabsorbed into the nerve cells that release them.
However, there are other actions that an individual can take, in addition to seeking professional help, that improve mood and help fight depression, according DeAnn Johnson, professor of psychology.
“Some of the things that have been known to reduce stress and have been shown in some studies to impact serotonin [include] exercise, exposure to light and also social support,” said Johnson. “Those are things that we know impact depression directly and may be involved with serotonin itself.”
According to Johnson, exercise can play a key role in fighting depression for many individuals.
“Exercise itself is a big combatant against depressed mood,” said Johnson. “There have been studies that show that if you can just get people to move more, their mood increased. The studies show that aerobic exercise shows a better difference than yoga, pilates and things like that. Those can help control stress, but not in the same way that is related to serotonin.”
Other ways to improve mood include cutting back on caffeine, which when taken in high doses can deplete serotonin in the brain, meditation, sleeping well and eating a healthy diet, according to Psych Central.
If a college student is feeling overwhelmed with stress or has become depressed, professional help is necessary. According to Baldwin, it is better to seek counseling when one is under stress, before the issue becomes full-blown depression.
“The sooner you come in, the better,” said Baldwin. “I always tell people, ‘If you’re stressed out, being irritable, being short with people, if you have stomach distress, not sleeping well, that’s the time to come into counseling.'”
To learn more about depression or to make an appointment with a counselor, contact the University Counseling Center at 985-549-3894.