Faith Meets Life: Feeling down in the dumps lately?
Around this time of year more people seem to get depressed. It could be the high credit card bills following Christmas. It could be having to cope with being a parent while trying to manage your course load. It could be that the party you hosted last week didn't turn out the way you expected. It could be that your clothes are in need of replacing.
Add to that Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This is the feeling of depression that is related to the sun shining less and the nights being longer during the winter. Or maybe the feeling of being sad arises just because it's minus five-million degrees outside and you want Spring.
What can a Fanshawe College student do to avoid feeling down in the dumps or more serious experiences of depression?
First, consider your body. It wants exercise and generally, you will feel better when you let it out for a walk or other form of activity. Try to exercise outside, to give you more exposure to the sun's light and look for a place, such as a track or park, where it's quieter, less noisy and less stressful. You don't have to exercise like a potential aspiring Olympian, just a few laps every day and some stretching or cardio exercises you've worked out with an instructor or on your own can raise your spirits every morning. You don't have to take out a fitness club membership. Remember, parks and sidewalks are free.
Second, consider your finances. Finances are cited as the most frequent source of stress in marriages. Finances can stress out single students too. Try to take as much charge of your money as possible. If you are living on borrowed funds, reevaluate your need for clothing and entertainment. Can you get one more year out of the winter boots you are wearing? Do you need to go and see a movie with your friends, or would renting a DVD and watching it together in your apartment be at least as much fun? Consider using the resources available to students to help you “make ends meet.” The FSU may be able to help, and of course, pay down your credit cards — possibly getting rid of them as soon as possible.
Third, consider Fanshawe's counsellors and chaplains. They are there to help you talk through issues including things that trigger stress in you. You may find that talking with someone about specific areas (a strength of the counselling department) or spending time with a chaplain who is a good listener can be a real help.
Fourth, look at your circle of acquaintances. Do your friends encourage positive behaviours or do they encourage negative ones - such as excessive drinking, drug use, criticizing other people, avoiding studying? Are there some people you need to stop hanging around with and others with whom you need to connect more?
Fifth, remember that sometimes being happy is an act of the will. Sometimes it can be very helpful to say to yourself, “today I'm going to smile, make cheerful comments to my classmates and instructors, and work hard on my assignments.” You are not a robot. We all have a will and we can use it to our advantage.
Sixth, take a look at your study habits and grades. Poor grades can be an indication that your're in the wrong program, but maybe you are in the program that is right for you and you just need to get into studying more effectively. Again, the college counsellors can be a real help to identify strategies that can work for you.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
Add to that Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. This is the feeling of depression that is related to the sun shining less and the nights being longer during the winter. Or maybe the feeling of being sad arises just because it's minus five-million degrees outside and you want Spring.
What can a Fanshawe College student do to avoid feeling down in the dumps or more serious experiences of depression?
First, consider your body. It wants exercise and generally, you will feel better when you let it out for a walk or other form of activity. Try to exercise outside, to give you more exposure to the sun's light and look for a place, such as a track or park, where it's quieter, less noisy and less stressful. You don't have to exercise like a potential aspiring Olympian, just a few laps every day and some stretching or cardio exercises you've worked out with an instructor or on your own can raise your spirits every morning. You don't have to take out a fitness club membership. Remember, parks and sidewalks are free.
Second, consider your finances. Finances are cited as the most frequent source of stress in marriages. Finances can stress out single students too. Try to take as much charge of your money as possible. If you are living on borrowed funds, reevaluate your need for clothing and entertainment. Can you get one more year out of the winter boots you are wearing? Do you need to go and see a movie with your friends, or would renting a DVD and watching it together in your apartment be at least as much fun? Consider using the resources available to students to help you “make ends meet.” The FSU may be able to help, and of course, pay down your credit cards — possibly getting rid of them as soon as possible.
Third, consider Fanshawe's counsellors and chaplains. They are there to help you talk through issues including things that trigger stress in you. You may find that talking with someone about specific areas (a strength of the counselling department) or spending time with a chaplain who is a good listener can be a real help.
Fourth, look at your circle of acquaintances. Do your friends encourage positive behaviours or do they encourage negative ones - such as excessive drinking, drug use, criticizing other people, avoiding studying? Are there some people you need to stop hanging around with and others with whom you need to connect more?
Fifth, remember that sometimes being happy is an act of the will. Sometimes it can be very helpful to say to yourself, “today I'm going to smile, make cheerful comments to my classmates and instructors, and work hard on my assignments.” You are not a robot. We all have a will and we can use it to our advantage.
Sixth, take a look at your study habits and grades. Poor grades can be an indication that your're in the wrong program, but maybe you are in the program that is right for you and you just need to get into studying more effectively. Again, the college counsellors can be a real help to identify strategies that can work for you.
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
