If there is one thing all college students can relate to, stress is it. Whether you are stressed out due to school, work, family, personal or social reasons, it all feels the same. Why is it that some students seem to have no problem dealing with their stress? Some students can still manage to perform their daily activities without the appearance of any stress or fatigue. Others under the same amount of pressure can barely function and shut down, not clearly understanding why they are having such a difficult time. If I learned one thing last year, it would definitely be that stress can effect you in more ways than you think.

As last year’s spring semester kicked into gear, I was not impressed. It wasn’t because my classes were too hard, or too boring, it was just me and my attitude. I had the luxury of living on campus and being able to sleep in to the last minute and run to class in my pajamas. Despite this advantage, I found myself skipping class to sleep in more and more often.

At first, I would wake up and decide that I would miss class because we weren’t doing anything important and I would still be able to attend the “make-up” class the next day. After two months of mornings sleeping in, it finally reached a point where I noticed something wasn’t right.

Not only had I not been going to class the past two months, I also noticed my social life had plummeted to an all-time low. It seemed as if my only friends were my body pillow and the television; and, to be perfectly honest, that lifestyle suited me just fine. One morning reality quickly hit me like a ton of bricks and I knew that who I was becoming was not the person I wanted to be.

The morning I decided to take action is still as vivid a feeling today as it was six months ago. I remember waking up and instantly wanting to hit the snooze button on my alarm. Since this was a routine pattern for me, it was no surprise that I had already made up my mind not to go to class. But there was another problem — work — and this was not as avoidable as skipping class. Sitting up in bed, I remember thinking, “I can’t get up.” I sat on my bed for five minutes contemplating calling in “sick,” and suddenly I came to terms with myself. I was suffering from depression.

Once I recognized and dealt with the problem, I discovered my mood changing a little for the better. I went to the school nurse and she referred me to the counselor located in the Student Union. Nobody wants to admit they might be suffering from depression, sometimes there are things you just can’t control. The objective in making public my personal issues is to show that even someone like me, who is energetic, outspoken, and personable, can still suffer from hidden problems.

Depression is common outcomes amongst college students dealing with stress. However, many tend to mask these issues due to the insecurity of acknowledging them. Freshmen are especially vulnerable to the heightened feelings of stress, insecurity, loneliness, social anxiety, in addition to dealing with family separation. Entering a new lifestyle surrounded by various people you don’t know can be intimidating, especially if you feel the need to try and fit in. Body image is a terrible thing when it leads to people taking drastic measures to achieve “perfection.” Bulimia, anorexia and overeating are serious decisions with dangerous consequences.

It is important to know that you are not alone if you are dealing with issues like these. Maybe they aren’t in your control, maybe they are. But one thing is certain, it is unhealthy and dangerous to continue a lifestyle that will only cause you problems in the future.

The best advice I can give is to go and do something about it. Whether you decide to talk to someone, visit the school nurse, local doctor, or meet with a counselor, you will find yourself happier, more confident, and more secure with yourself, just as I did after meeting with the counselor. Stress will always be a factor; perfection will never be achieved. These are the facts of life and once you accept them, you will no longer feel the need to focus on all the “negatives.” Trust it from someone who has been through depression, getting out isn’t easy, but once you do it’s uphill from there.