Studying with depression

Depression – feelings of severe despondency and dejection.

More like: depression – overwhelming feelings of no motivation, self-hatred and the need to sleep 24/7.

Depression, honestly, is one of the most subjective things I know. The feelings you get vary from person to person but either way depression is an awful mental illness that no-one should have to deal with.

This last weekend (for me) has been one of the worst weekends for my mood. There have been many triggers that have set me off into a world of obsessiveness and I was spiralling into a pit that I dug for my own death bed. However, I carried it out. I carried on. I got through it.

By the title of this, I guess you’re expecting advice on how to study when things aren’t as great when they should be. But I am going to tell you the exact opposite.

I am so very guilty of studying as a type of distraction but this not only isn’t productive but also does not make you feel any better than you could be. This, obviously, is a terrible and self-destructive idea.

So here are my tips on what you should do before you revise to make yourself feel better while doing your revision:

1. DO NOT give in to your thoughts. You are so worth a lot more than what your brain is telling you. Do the opposite of what your brain tells you. If your brain says, lay in bed all day, get up, power pose and carry on with all the plans you wanted to do.
2. Plan your day. Add into your day three different types of activities; necessary, pleasurable (and make sure to incorporate many of these) and routine. Your necessary activities are those that have a deadline and also consequences if they are not carried out. Your pleasurable activities are the things you enjoy like reading, singing or a club you go to. Your routine activities are activities that you do everyday like going to school and eating dinner.
3. Self-care. As much as I have a pure hatred for this phrase, you need to look after yourself. This can include things like having a bath, drinking a cup of tea, watching your favourite Netflix series while painting your nails or doing your make up.
4. Do other productive things. I find when I am depressed, I feel bad for not being as productive as I should be. This is where you can prevent this. I find that in order to be productive without doing things on the list is to do things such as organising your folders, tidying your room, helping out your mum with her housework or making a timetable/a to-do list.

Once all of these have been succeeded and you feel as if you are ready to move on to revision and that your mood improves, then you can, in fact, do so. However, if at any point you feel worse than you were. Stop. Start the activities again. Then move on to revision.

I hope this has helped. And don’t give up.

SANEline (good for advice): 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30 to 10.30pm)

Samaritans (really good listeners) – 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)