Depression and School

What are some things you struggle with at school?

When it comes to having both anxiety and depression at school, it can be really hard just to get myself through a classroom door. I don't want to talk to people because of the depression and the social anxiety takes over to compliment that even more.

How do you cope with depression at school?

I've often found that going to the counseling office and simply asking for a cup of ice is really beneficial to me. I started doing this about a year ago and the counselor is always so kind about it. I also try to make myself focus on work, although it's really hard to do.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

I'll ask if I can take a lap around the hall, and if I know that my teacher won't let me do that, I ask to go to the restroom. Getting myself out of the learning environment for just a few minutes can help me a lot.

How do you think schools can become more inclusive of mentally ill students?

I think that teachers need to be more understanding of the fact that sometimes you physically can't make yourself do an assignment because you spent the entire evening depressed. It's really hard to force yourself to do something when the depression takes over. I know that this is a struggle and a balance because school prepares you for the real world. If you were to say you couldn't go to your job because you were depressed, you'd probably be fired. Setting up more talks and assemblies and just having people you can go to at school when you feel depressed (not necessarily counselors who are always super busy) would be nice as well. c:

I hope you all have a good day.

@stuckintime92

I'm mostly not depressed 'in' school but rather because of it. I was a good student from the very beginning and that kinda upped my parents' expectations. My brother was not so good, academically speaking cause otherwise he's awesome, and that only raised the weight on my shoulder of being the 'bright child'.

Then finally one day, I broke. I didn't mean to. I mean, it's parents' basic righy to have expectations from their kids. I'm not against that. But the more they did, the more difficult it became for me to bear those hopes. And to worsen it, I felt bad every time I couldn't accomplish the goals that they set for me. I didn't want them to get their hopes up because I wasn't too sure of myself. But then again I LOATHED myself for not letting my parents expect anything out of me. I mean, it was their one chance! It is their basic nature to expect something from me!! They've raised me the best they could and given me every damn thing possible and now when it's my turn, why should I take away this opportunity from them?? I don't know if you guys understand but, it's just how I felt.

I hated myself for not doing what's expected, then I hated my parents for pushing me in the pit of self-hate and then I hated myself all over again because what type of a kid was I that hated her own parents??? And how could I hate them for their expectations, as they are the basic right of each parent??

So it was kinda this circle where every time I came back to hating myself. And I got so worried and so tense that I completely broke. I started cutting myself to ease the pain inside and when the school authorities and later my dad and mom found out, all hell broke loose. I am not going into those details now. They're kinda traumatic and painful.

I don't even know why I said all of this. I mean, this thread wasn't even meant for this. But I've never talked about this with anyone else (the complete story I mean) and it felt like I might explode if I didn't. I'm so sorry if this was the wrong thing to say.

The school I have attended for the past few years is very academically challenging, and at times depression/anxiety/pure stress would overwhelm me. It didnt help that I would get very little sleep, because I had very large amounts of homework and it was very difficult for me to focus on working hard for hours on end every night. Ive also found that sitting still and staring at a computer screen for hours on end makes me feel much worse, but there wasnt really any way to avoid that. Plus, I have very high standards for myself. All those things combined meant I was staying up extremely late nearly every night, which made my mental health decline rapidly. It felt impossible to break the cycle. I would show up at school some days feeling completely overwhelmed, exhausted, and with heightened anxiety. Sometimes the only way I could seem to cope while in class was to dig my fingernails hard into my arm over and over. It would leave visible red marks all over my skin that would last for a few days after. That became a habit and almost led to me cutting myself but Im so grateful and happy to say that I never got completely to that point. However, I know I was lucky and that many people have dealt with much worse. Im so thankful that I can speak about this in past tense now because Ive graduated from that school, but I really hope awareness of mental health increases among educators and students. The teachers would often act like if a student so much as mentioned being stressed, they were spoiled and didnt deserve to complain because the have such a good life. I really hope people realize that just because things seem okay on the outside doesnt mean youre not dealing with something really dark and scary on the inside. These teachers didnt even know what was going on in the students lives, but they would jump to conclusions about them anyway. Im not saying all teachers are like that, because I know teachers work really hard and Im very grateful for the education I got. However, I think its important to increases awareness about mental health problems in students.

One better way I would cope is to ask to go to the bathroom when I knew no one else would be in there and do a few jumping jacks and stretches, splash some water on my face, take a little breather. It would help wake my brain up a bit and give me a boost of energy.

Whew! Sorry that was so long!

Depression is a serious mental disease, one can't cope with both anxiety and depression on his own, one needs serious medical treatment, especially when it comes to teenagers, especially during studying process which is rather exhausting, too. I know this from my own experience, it is impossible to study when you're stressed. Happily my parents supported me, my friends helped me out greatly at school and I must confess I got most of my homework done via MC2 (happily these guys can assist with all the possible subjects). Due to good support I overcame the illness and it had almost zero impact on the quality of studying and the marks. I just compensated everything during summer vacations, rather successfully.