Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. According to the American Psychological Association, people with depression may experience a lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, significant weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
If you think you might have severe depression symptoms that affect how you feel, think and handle daily activities, you should consider talking to one of our counselors. Click here to learn more about MTU's counseling options
Common Signs and Symptoms:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in hobbies or activities that you once enjoyed
- Feelings of worthlessness, guilt or helplessness
- Lack of motivation
- Social withdrawal
- Changes in appetite and/or weight
- Irritability and/or anger
- Physical aches and/or pains
- Changes in sleep patterns (difficulty falling asleep, waking up or oversleeping)
- Trouble concentrating and/or making decisions
- Decreased energy level or fatigue
- Feeling restless and/or distracted
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- If you need help for you or someone else, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Types of Depression:
According to the ADAA, 264 million people worldwide live with depression. There are different types of depressive disorders, and while there are many similarities among them, each depressive disorder has its own unique set of symptoms. To learn more on the different forms of depression, please visit Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Living in a place with long winters and shorter days, such as Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, a person may be more likely to experience seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
According to the Mayo Clinic, SAD is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Traditionally, symptoms are noticed in the fall and improve in the spring, but can occur at any seasonal change.
For more information and treatment tips, please visit our Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) page.
Screening Tool:
https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/depression/
Helpful Resources for Coping with Depression:
- Seeking Help and Staying Connected:
- Activity and Exercise:
- Mindfulness and Relaxation:
- Depression Recovery: Relaxation Exercises Can Help
- Can Mindfulness Help When You're Depressed?
- For you - Mental Health Is Health
- Dartmouth College has Guided Audio Recordings: Meditation, Breathing Exercises, Relaxation Exercises, Guided Imagery Exercises, Progressive Muscle Relaxation Exercises and Soothing Instrumental Music
- Visit the MTU Mindfulness and Meditation page for more resources
- Goal Setting:
Additional Resources:
- Useful Links: