Signs of Depression

College students across the nation deal with stress, fatigue, and anxiety on a day to day basis. This may be a result of home sickness, not enough sleep, not enough food, indulging too much in drugs and alcohol, or because of a stressful atmosphere.

Many people write these feelings off as a normal but the reality is these feelings are early signs of depression and depression leads many students to suicide.

Signs of Depression

1) Social Withdrawal-This the most common sign of depression. Many people pull away from friends & family. To counteract this you should try to surround yourself with loved ones in order to lift your spirits.

2) Rumination- Rumination is just a fancy word for over thinking or racking your brain about something. Depressed individuals usually ruminate about losed loved ones, failure, or past relationships. When you're depressed you tend to continuously think negative thoughts and turn everything in to something negative.

For example: Someone compliments a friends' outfit but not yours. You'll continue to wonder why and over think it.

3) Turning to Alcohol- Man people turn to alcohol or drugs as a cure for depression.

4) Cravings- Many people turn to eating as way to cope. Overly indulging and sweets and food. Frequent stomachaches, headaches, skin breaking out.

5) Change in sleep patterns-Sleeping too much or not enough.

If you find yourself feeling any of these ways here are some tips on how to turn things around.