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School creates unique challenges when a person is depressed. The deadlines are often more intense than a traditional work environment, and the amount of information that needs to be digested and tested can feel overwhelming. And if you come from a family that holds education in high esteem, you likely have additional pressure and high expectations. Even when you’re not depressed, that can be a lot to deal with.
School often encompasses all the individual situations that can be difficult for someone who is depressed, but when they’re combined, they can be almost overwhelming. These situations include large, overstimulating classrooms; changes in eating and sleep patterns; living with strangers; heavy reading; learning a trade; intense concentration; public (class) speaking; test taking; learning safety protocols; keeping to a very strict time schedule; thinking of the future; increase in alcohol consumption; being away from parents for the first time; feeling isolated; and working while going to school. That’s a lot, but it’s not even all of the pressures students often have to deal with. These changes are very intense for some students who have little preparation for the extra mental problems outside of their actual classwork.
When you’re depressed, having human contact can often feel a lot better than sitting alone and cramming yourself with information. But considering that you’re in school to learn skills, get a degree, and (for most people) get a job, you must create a school structure that supports you, even when you feel too sick to study and attend class.
Do any of these potential school problems apply to you?
Raymond’s Story
I started law school at age 22, and I was very pleased and excited to get into a top university. The first year wasn’t so bad, but by the second year, my depression was getting worse and worse, and I had trouble focusing in class. The topics that were pretty easy the first year became more and more difficult to understand as my depression grew worse. I remember sitting in a lecture, crying, and worried that I would flunk out. I had trouble in my study groups and started sleeping when I should have been studying. My adviser suggested I see a doctor. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong and that my intellect and sheer determination were enough to get me through. They weren’t.
I saw a doctor, and he agreed that I was profoundly depressed and suggested I take some time off. This isn’t really a possibility in law school. I would be behind in my classes and miss taking the “baby bars” on schedule, but I had no choice once I started to miss classes. It was a really hard decision—especially for my parents, who were paying my living expense—but I knew I had to do something.
So, I took a year off. I went on antidepressants, took a social services job, and started to get better. When the year was over, I went back to class with more hope, but knew I had to be prepared. For the next two years of school, I was depressed off and on, but I was more able to handle it because of the medications and my time off.
I’m now a lawyer. Yes, taking a year off did mess up my schedule, but without that year off, I don’t think I would have finished at all. I might have taken a lot more time to finish than other students, but I’m glad I stuck it out.
My Story
I went to college before I created the strategies in this book. It took me eight years to get a degree. My family emphasizes education over almost anything else, and I was constantly asked why I couldn’t just get my undergraduate degree , followed by my graduate and doctorate degrees, like I should. “You are so smart, Julie. You could be a lawyer or professor or anything you want, if you could just settle down and get your degrees.”
I definitely feel sad about the time lost and the fact that I was often too depressed and/or distracted to keep going with my education, but ut I now see it as a miracle that I got my degree. Few areas in my life have been unaffected by depression, but losing my ability to go to school in a normal amount of time has been a major disappointment.
What I do now:
Social Media and Technology
Online school is an option while you’re that depressed, but it doesn’t mean it won’t be a challenge for the depressed brain. Try one class, and once that class is accomplished, look into taking on more responsibility. Online school isn’t easier than an in-person school; it’s simply different. Online learning opens a new world where you can connect with others through video and chat while you study on your schedule. This can reduce anxiety, save money, and get you the degree that you want and need. However, if regular school is too much for you, don’t assume that online school will be easier. It might be, but it might not be!
Online school requires the self-discipline depression often takes from us. Find your online balance. Maybe a combination of online work and meeting every three months in person is what will work for you. Work with the disability department of your school. Ask for help with scheduling and test taking. Take an online class with someone who can help you stay on track. Ask for help to stick to your goal of finishing school, while also creating a plan that allows you to study and follow a set schedule. Choose a degree that takes your work challenges into account, and go for your dream! Online learning has revolutionized our world. Use it to your advantage.
Script
I need your encouragement to reach my goals. I just might have to keep going with my school and training before the depression is gone. I thought I would wait until the depression ended and then go back to my goals, but that’s not working out. I want to finish something now so that I don’t look back on these depressed times and have nothing to show for my life. I want to finish my degree. I will need help. I am going to talk with the school’s disability services, and I will get extra help for anxiety and the down days. I need morning classes, and I will need help with organization. I am sure people can help me now that I know what I want. I am open to your ideas. Yes, I have to go slowly. I am ready to see how I do with a small school load and go from there. Let’s talk about this together. I want my education.
Exercise
On the tough days, remind yourself that you’re working toward a very specific goal—graduation. If you need to, write down your school start and finish dates so you always have them at hand. You can remind yourself of these dates when it seems like school will go on forever and you will never graduate.
Your start date:
Your finish date:
The time is going to pass anyway, so you might as well get an education. You’ll get your degree if you stick to it.
ASK DR. PRESTON
Question
Why is school so difficult for depressed people?
Answer
Depression can cause impaired concentration and ability to think, which can result in poor grades. Then poor grades cause increasing feelings of failure and low self-esteem. In addition, the social requirements at school might become a source of distress because the depressed person can often become isolated from people.
Many people go to college at a young age right out of high school. They are often away from family and the everyday structure they knew as children. If you were depressed before going to school, it’s especially important that you remind yourself that school can be a depression trigger and plan accordingly. If you’re in school now and the depression is new, you can create a structure you can use for school, as well as your future work years. It’ll all be worth it; the day you have your degree will be one of the proudest days of your life.
Here are some more tips for getting your degree or a trade certification:
School has a set start and finish date. Degrees end. Skills can be learned. It helps if you constantly remind yourself that what you’re going through is not forever and that you can hold out if you think of the finished goal—a degree—instead of focusing on the amount of work you have to do now.
The work you do when you’re depressed is often as good as the work you do when you’re well. This seems impossible when you’re in the middle of a project, but it’s often true. When the negative thoughts come up that your work is no good, counteract them with specific replies such as “I will keep going. The work has to get done, and I’ll simply do what I can.”
There’s no question that depression physically affects brain function. If you feel more distracted and less open to new information when you’re depressed, you’re not imagining things. You have solution options. For those who have depression and not bipolar depression, antidepressants and ADHD-type medications can help. For others, overriding the depression and working anyway does the trick.
Rethink your expectations. Are your standards for when you’re well simply not possible when you’re depressed?
Ask for help. In many schools, teaching assistants have time to help you with difficult courses. You can go for help every day.
Never quit. Unless you are truly too depressed to work—which means you need immediate professional help—you have to make a rule for yourself that you won’t quit in the middle of a class. Finishing is often just as important as a grade.
Don’t let your class load get out of control. You might not be able to handle a full class load. This can be frustrating, but remember, you have to focus on the end goal—getting a degree—instead of getting down on yourself for not being able to handle a full load like many of your classmates. Ask yourself what’s more important, a degree or getting perfect grades. Some students with depression have to make that decision daily.
Always go to class. This is not negotiable. Even if you sit in the back of the class crying, go to class. You’ll always feel better if you go because depression responds to rules. Your brain is chaotic when you’re depressed, so you have to work around this and create structure.
And finally, the most important thing is to have a time and set place for studying. First, decide what type of environment works best for you to take in information. The library? A coffee shop? Your dorm? Next, set a time and place to study, and make it non-negotiable. That means setting limits to any possible distractions. You might have to find a space where there are no people you know. You might have to turn off your phone, ban yourself from online distractions, and make yourself sit down and get your work done. If you think about it, this is really the only way you can make it through school: You have to sit down and study.
Remember: Anyone who gets a degree or learns a trade while dealing with depression is a true scholar.