Think you might have depression? Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious mental health condition that should not go ignored. Depression affects a lot of college students; according to one survey, 44% of college students report experiencing symptoms of depression. College can be a highly rewarding period of your life, but it can also come with new stressors and challenges. The unique challenges that come with college life can contribute to depression. If you think you might be experiencing the symptoms of depression, a professional screening can offer valuable insight. Identifying your condition can be an important step toward finding a solution that works for you.

Signs you should consider undergoing a depression screening

• Persistent sadness — The college experience has highs and lows, and it’s natural to feel down sometimes. If you find yourself feeling sad or hopeless most of the time, though, your mood might be a sign of depression. Persistent sadness that lasts for two weeks or more is a key depression symptom. Your sadness may be accompanied by a feeling of emptiness and a lack of hope for the future. If you are experiencing these feelings, getting a depression screening can help make sense of your emotions.
• Low energy levels — Do you feel tired all the time? Constantly feeling like you’re out of energy is a common sign of depression. You may feel exhausted even when there is no clear reason. For example, you might wake up tired even after a full night of sleep. Chronic exhaustion can have a major impact on your enjoyment of college. As a result of lowered energy levels, you may become less socially outgoing and have more trouble keeping up with your courses. Mental health treatment can play a pivotal role in restoring your energy.
• Loss of pleasure — College is often a time full of changes. As a result, your interests and the activities you enjoy may change over time. While some shifts are expected, losing pleasure in all of your favorite activities can be a cause for concern. If hobbies that used to bring fulfillment now feel hollow, it could be a sign of depression. Depression has a major impact on the reward centers of the brain. This means that activities that would usually elicit a positive response may no longer do so. As your favorite activities cease to be pleasurable, you may start to feel like they are meaningless or uninteresting. This can lead to a broader sense of detachment that may impact your interpersonal relationships and academic studies. If you are starting to feel a loss of pleasure when it comes to activities you used to love, it might be time to undergo a depression screening. After your screening, you can start working with a licensed clinical therapist to address each of your symptoms directly. 
• Academic difficulties — Are your college courses starting to feel a lot harder? Does it feel impossible to concentrate during lectures? Having more difficulty with your academic life is one possible sign of depression. People with depression often have trouble concentrating, which can make it more challenging to follow along with your courses. Left unaddressed, this may lead to a decline in your grades and overall academic performance. If your mental health is impacting your ability to keep up with coursework, finding an effective intervention is important.
• Low self-esteem — Having a negative image of yourself is a common sign of depression. Low self-esteem can be especially harmful during college, a period where you may be doing a lot of self-exploration. For help with low self-esteem and other symptoms, mental health treatment such as process-based therapy (PBT) can be highly effective. You can think of PBT as a fully personalized framework using the most effective aspects of evidence-based modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) as well as compassion-based and somatic therapies, to target the drivers behind mental health disorders and symptoms.

Learn more about your symptoms and how you can treat them with Lightfully U

If you think you might have depression, getting a professional assessment is an important step. At Lightfully U, we can help evaluate and address your condition. We offer a range of depression treatment options at multiple levels of care. Our holistic, evidence-driven framework is designed to promote healing and lasting mental wellness. With our help, you can identify your condition and start making progress toward recovery.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step toward a depression assessment, contact us. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of you.