Your mental health is important.
In college, our brains are always engaged. We are always using our minds, and sometimes we overwork them. And, when that happens, sometimes we take a mental health day, and, that's OK. Our mental health is key to our success in college, and even beyond, when we really have to "adult."
College is really the first time many of us are on our own. We have to stay on top of our studies and our personal relationships. We have to take care of ourselves, and I don’t just mean physically. I mean our whole being — mind and body. What I mean by taking care of ourselves, is we need to do what we have to to keep our minds healthy.
I was recently doing a little bit of research on depression, and I found a study done by the National Institute of Mental Health, that reports 30 percent of college students have struggled through depression. Those people, who reported having experienced depression, have expressed that their depression makes it hard for them to live their lives. When this is the case, students need a break. Just one day to themselves.
Take a day, a mental health day, to give yourself a break. We put so much pressure on ourselves, as college students. At times, we get to our breaking points, and I believe a huge part of taking care of ourselves is knowing when to say, “I need a break.”
That break doesn’t need to be a week, a month or a whole semester. However, if you feel that’s what you need, take it. And don’t feel ashamed. You have to take care of you. Take a day. Watch some Netflix, catch up on some sleep and focus on you.
Sometimes, when we’re in that rough spot, all we really need is a community around us. Your friends, especially during your first year of college, are lifesavers. I know I can’t thank mine enough. They really become your family. In my experience, just knowing that I have a group of people to lean on when I’m having a rough day, helps to keep me from feeling that anxiety I often feel as the work starts to pile up.
If you’re feeling low, take a trip home. I know that’s not as easy for some as it is for others. For me, it would be a 3,000-mile trip, so that wasn’t a real option. But for some, school isn’t too far from home, and in that case, make the trip. Sometimes all you need is to be around family and what you’ve known for most of your life. It’ll do wonders for your mental health. Meet with your therapist, talk it out and head back to school rejuvenated. And, don’t be ashamed of needing a little break from the routine of college classes and homework.
Seek help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Asking for help can be hard, but there is nothing to be ashamed of. If you can take this first step, which I know you all can, it’s a huge sign of strength. Colleges and universities have mental health professionals for a reason. They are a resource, and they want to help.
What I’m asking you to do, is next time you’re feeling a little low, take a second, and ask yourself, Am I really going to regret taking this day off or missing this assignment, five years from now? I can guarantee you, that the answer will be no. Missing one assignment isn’t going to make or break your grade, and it surely isn’t going to keep you from getting a job after graduation.
So take a day or a weekend, or ask for help. Do what you need to take care of yourself. You are important. Don’t feel ashamed of the way you’re feeling. Do what you need to do.
