Withdrawing from college due to depression (Is it possible?)

In this article, we will navigate to the reasons for withdrawing from college due to depression. Bit first, we will look at Is it possible to withdraw from college due to depression, how to withdraw from college due to depression, what is depression, its symptoms, and types.

Is it possible to withdraw from college due to depression? 

Yes, of course, it is possible to withdraw from college due to depression. Like any physical health condition, mental health condition also calls for the need to take complete rest. Even in the 21st century, humans stigmatize mental health conditions. Only because of the fact that mental health conditions cannot be seen physically until the symptoms are shown, we do not believe that the person might be going through something that is unknown to us. 

If you were to be in an accident, where you have broken your arm or say you were to fight cancer, because of the consequences and the side effects of the medication and therapy, you would have to withdraw from college. Similarly, fighting depression is no easy. Yes, there might not be many physical symptoms, but if the state of mind is hindering your peace, then you have the right to withdraw from college. 

Depression is not easy to deal with. Just because a disorder is seen commonly does not mean that it’s difficulty reduces. Depression is not the mere sadness that haunts a person. It comes with various challenges. Depression can make you feel worthless. You may just want to lie in your bed and not do anything. In fact, you will run out of energy to do anything. Loss of sleep, appetite all takes a toll on both your mental and physical health. When depressed interacting with people is just a mere burden. This is how it feels. Depression if left untreated can reach the point of suicide. 

So, it is our hands to decide what is important? Our life? Or one year of college? It is certainly our life. Nevertheless, as we know humans are unique. We may all have two hands and two legs, but we are not made the same way. Before deciding on withdrawing from college due to depression, you must consult a mental health professional. There are times that you may be able to recover without the withdrawal. Withdrawal sure is an extreme step, so do it only when it is vital and necessary. 

One is every 5 college student deals with a mental illness. Some can cope with it while going to college, while others might not be able to do so. This does not make them weak. It only gives them a better time to cope. 

How to withdraw from college due to depression? 

If you have decided to withdraw from college due to depression, you need to first start by filling the withdrawal form. You must also keep in handy most of your documents needed like the fee slip,  a letter from your therapist allowing you to withdraw, and giving an idea about your mental state. You must also meet the criteria for depression or the mental illness you are dealing with. 

Every college might have a different set of rules and regulations. Visit the registrar or Dean’s office to find out more about the withdrawal procedure from your college. However, before you do decide to make the withdrawal, make sure you talk to the school or college counselor once.  

What is depression? 

In a few words, depression is serious and the most common mental health disorder. Depression or  Major Depressive Disorder as mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Health is a mood disorder that is seen to be accompanied by extreme sadness and feelings of worthlessness. This mental health condition also has a direct impact on the physical health of a person. It usually causes a loss of interest in things that were enjoyed at one point in life. 

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 17.3 million adults in the United State, equaling 7.1% of all adults in the country have experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. 8.7% of women suffer from depression while only 5.3% of men have depression.in addition, depression leading to suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States.

Symptoms of depression

To understand better, we need to look at the signs and symptoms that is what depression actually might look like. Here are certain indications that may help you to recognize depression: 

• A sense of sadness and emptiness 
• Lack of pleasure in any activities (anhedonia)
• Hopelessness 
• Feeling unworthy 
• Excessive guilt for no reason 
• Extreme anger 
• Constant irritation 
• Fatigue 
• Insomnia or lack of sleep
• Unable to concentrate on anything
• Lack of appetite or overeating 
• Physical pains and aches across the body 
• Suicidal thoughts 

For you to diagnosed with depression, you should face these symptoms for at least two weeks.  

Types of depression 

There isn’t only one kind of depression. Depression can be manifested in different ways as well as of different kinds. The types of depression are based on the time period as well as the underlying cause for depression. 

Major depressive disorder

This is what is classified as clinical depression. People with major depressive disorders have episodes of depression that may last for at least two weeks. This kind of depression has all the symptoms of depression that will mention later in the blog. 

Persistent depressive disorder

As the name suggests, people with the persistent depressive disorder also known as dysthymia experience depression for a longer period of time. This means that the symptoms of depression such as sadness, irritability, loss of appetite, and sleep might be milder, but last for at least two years. 

Bipolar disorder 

This is a mood disorder with episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. People with bipolar disorder experience depression for two weeks and they might shift to a state of mania or hypomania. 

Cyclothymic disorder

Cyclothymic disorder is an uncommon condition that is often described as a milder form of bipolar disorder. The person experiences chronic fluctuating moods over at least two years, involving periods of hypomania (a mild to moderate level of mania) and periods of depressive symptoms, with very short periods (no more than two months) of normality between. The symptoms last for a shorter time, are less severe and are not as regular, so they don’t fit the criteria of bipolar disorder or major depression.

Postpartum depression.

Due to an imbalance in the hormonal state, women who give birth to a baby usually feel depressed after the delivery. This may range from baby blues to postpartum depression, where the mother is unable to take care of the newborn infant. 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

SAD is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons, typically starting in the late fall and early winter and going away during the spring and summer.

Psychotic depression

Sometimes, people with a depressive condition can lose touch with reality. This can involve hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there) or delusions (false beliefs that are not shared by others), such as believing they are bad or evil, or that they are being watched or followed, or that everyone is against them. This is known as psychotic depression.

Why you should withdraw from college due to depression? 

Reasons you should  withdraw from college due to depression

College may make your depression worse 

Depression can be caused by various reasons. There is no single reason that can be pinpointed. If you are depressed, going to college, might only make it worse. There are chances that the initial trigger for your depression was your college. In such a situation having to go to the same place, every day will not cure it but just pull you further down the spiral. Having to keep up with the assignments and examinations with your mental health compromised is not worth it. With depression and the extra stress of college, you will just find it even more challenging to get out of it. 

It will give you enough time and space to cope 

Taking a year drop by withdrawing from college due to depression, will only give you the time and space you need. You will be able to concentrate only on your mental health. Attend the therapy sessions regularly without any stress about assignments or examinations. You will be able to give yourself the time you have been longing for. There is no better treatment for a mental health condition than self-care. With college, it might just be difficult to go out on the terrace and read a book while watching a sunset. In addition, you will not have to deal with a lot of people.

Attending college with depression is the most difficult thing to do 

Imagine the time when you actually do not want to do anything but stay in your bed and sleep, but you are forced to get up and go to college and interact with people. This is not the happening of one day, but something that is happening for over more than at least two weeks. Depression makes you lose interest in anything and everything. You may even not like hanging out with your friends or do things that you enjoyed with them. Having to do all of this forcefully is not worth your mental health. 

Your grades might drop leading to a lower overall GPA 

At the end of our college years, all we want is a good overall GPA.  but with depression, where you are not interested in any leisure activity, you surely will not be interested in studying anything. Depression usually leads to a fall in the grade, it is seen that depressed people usually fail. So having to attend college while being depressed is in no way going to help you with your grades. In fact, it will only do the opposite. It will reduce your grades. 

You may lack the strength to do so 

Overall, you just might not have the energy to go to college. When we look at the symptoms of depression, fatigue is one of them. Having to force yourself in a fatigued state to go to your place of work or educational institute will only make your symptoms go worse. Additionally, wit will then add to your physical symptoms too. 

BetterHelp: A Better Alternative

Those who are seeking therapy online may also be interested in BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers plenty of formats of therapy, ranging from live chats, live audio sessions and live video sessions. In addition, unlimited messaging through texting, audio messages and even video messages are available here.

BetterHelp also offers couples therapy and therapy for teenagers in its platform. Furthermore, group sessions can also be found in this platform, covering more than twenty different topics related to mental health and mental illness. The pricing of BetterHelp is also pretty cost-effective, especially considering the fact that the platform offers financial aid to most users.

Conclusion 

In this article, we have navigated to the reasons for withdrawing from college due to depression. Bit first, we have looked at Is it possible to withdraw from college due to depression, how to withdraw from college due to depression, what is depression, its symptoms, and types. 

FAQs: Withdrawing from college due to depression

References 

https://www.lccc.edu/current-students/student-records-registration/withdrawal-for-medical-mental-health-reasons

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1573130/

https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression