Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety

Depression and Anxiety

Many college students, both at Rowan and other colleges/universities, suffer with depression or anxiety at some point during their college career. College can be a stressful time for everyone. New schedules, new friends, new classes and a new environment can be a challenging transition. You're not alone.

Rowan has on-campus resources available to help. If you or a friend is experiencing an emergency, call the Wellness Center at 856-256-4333 during business hours or Public Safety (856-256-4911) after hours and ask to speak to the counselor on call.

Common Mental Health Facts

Depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, insomnia and ADHD are common on college campuses.

50% of all college students reported that, at one time, they felt so depressed they had trouble functioning.

15% met the criteria for Major Depression.

20% of all college students were diagnosed or treated for a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.

Most common symptoms were depression and anxiety...twice as common in women than men. 

Depression

According to the DSM-V, depression can be a combination of the following symptoms. Only a mental health professional can make an official diagnosis.

  • Depressed mood on most days of the week
  • Loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable
  • Change in weight or eating habits
  • Change in sleeping habits (too much or too little sleep)
  • Sense of restlessness or being slowed down
  • Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
  • Feeling worthless or excessively guilty
  • Lost or diminished ability to concentrate
  • Recurring thoughts of death (not just fear of death) or thoughts of suicide
Anxiety

Anxiety is another common mental concern for many college students. Signs of anxiety can include:

  • Feelings of fear, panic or uneasiness
  • Obsessive thoughts or flashbacks to a specific event
  • Nightmares or sleeping disruptions
  • Physical symptoms can include cold/sweaty hands or feet, palpitations, shortness of breath, restlessness, dry mouth, nausea or dizziness.
How to Help Yourself

There are lots of ways to effectively manage symptoms of depression and anxiety. First and foremost, talk to a counselor to come up with the best plan for you. It may involve medication, it may not. Other ways to help alleviate symptoms of depression or anxiety are to:

  • Get involved in an activity. Being involved will help your social health, help you make friends and help build your resume in the process! 
  • Exercise. Even going for a walk can help clear your head. There are walking routes around Rowan that will allow for some scenery and exercise. Check out with the Rec Center has to offer.
  • Find what you can do for stress relief. For some, it’s listening to music. For others, it may be running or reading a book. Discover what you like to do.
  • Practice good nutrition. Gourmet Dining can help you make good nutritional decisions
  • Get some sleep! A good night’s sleep (usually no more than 9 hours total) can help elevate mood.
  • Do something productive. Finish that paper you’ve been working on, or make a good start on that project. Even cleaning can help elevate your mood when you see how good the finished product looks!
  • Check out Theraphy Assistance Online (TAO) for information about onine therapy - exclusively for Rowan Students!