depression in grad school?

[MaryShelley]

How do you deal with it? Do you seek help on campus? Or is it just a passing phase?

[myoranges]

Hi MaryShelley,

 

I am sorry to disappoint you to say that I do not have much insights because I am just applying to graduate schools this year, but at least I can tell you that taking out a small portion of your time to immerse yourself in a completely different environment helps -- it might be visiting a nearby forest or mountain, aimlessly walking downtown, etc. Just make sure to empty your mind during that time. 

 

And again, you are not the only one -- everybody has troubles all the time (as I do), and I have a strong faith that your depression will just be a passing phase

[MaryShelley]

Thank you for your kind words. But I have come to the point where I don't even want to go anywhere, I am simply not interested. I have come from a foreign land so that kind of makes things worse..... sorry to sound like Im complaining though

[pears]

I'm in an M.A. program, & I was diagnosed with MDD & anxiety about 10 years ago. As I said in a different but similar thread, "I would neither be alive nor able to even get out of bed, feed myself, or sleep normally without the anti-depressants (and other medications) I'm taking." I see a therapist & a psychiatrist through my school's health center. In general, they're very helpful, although there's only one staff psychiatrist who's part-time.. on a campus of 10,000+. I've found that the therapist is really helpful, because they've got a lot of experience working with students in all courses of all ages & walks of life. Also, appointments are very affordable, & I can schedule appointments as I see fit, whereas private practitioners are often more expensive & want you to stick to a certain appointment schedule. If your school has student mental health services, I would highly recommend at least giving them a try.

[LittleDarlings]

I haven't been diagnosed with depression or anything but I have other issues that cause me to go to therapy and I honestly think that you should try to get in with the therapist at your school.  It feels so good to have someone to tell things to who don't judge and who have no emotional investment in you.  Just try one session, and then you can decide if you want to go on an anti-depressant. I am at that point right now where I need to decide if trying an antidepressant is good for me or not. 

[biotechie]

How do you deal with it? Do you seek help on campus? Or is it just a passing phase?

 

You should go talk to your Ombudsman and they can help you get ahold of the proper people to figure out what is going on that is making you feel this way. There's nothing wrong with seeking help even if it turns out to be a "phase." Depression in graduate school is common, and sometimes it is really hard to impossible to get out of it on your own. You really do need to talk to someone, and that may be all you need. At the very least, it will help you figure out where you stand and what steps you need to take from there. Sometimes having a direction to go, even a small one, helps! Good luck!

[Neither Here Nor There]

I was depressed when I first started my MA (not because of the program; I came in depressed). Because I am in the humanities, the intellectual environment and in particular a couple works I read really made my depression lesson. But it was really hard for a while because depression makes me not want to do anything and especially not want to be around people.

[shaketheshock]

I am only just accepted into grad school for this September, but I do have plenty of experience being an undergrad with mental health diagnoses (including depression). I'm not sure what it's like at your school, but at mine I am able to register as a student with a disability because I have mental health diagnoses and this can help take some pressure off about completing things at the exact right time when I cannot even contemplate cooking myself food.

 

I would suggest seeing someone at your school first though, to see what they think about what is going on with you, and if that is even necessary.

 

Good luck, I'm in a horrible depression myself right now (and I'm getting ECT), hope we both feel better soon.