Post-graduation depression is a very real mental health issue

Post-graduation flaute is a very real mental health issuePost-graduation depression is a very real mental health issueGraduating from college issupposedto be an exciting, happy time. Your whole future is ahead of you, and final exams are behind. For some grads, though, graduation isnt all tossing caps up in the air accompanied by happiness. In fact, it can be the complete opposite - enter post-graduation depression.What is post-graduate depressionWhile post-graduation depression isnt an official diagnosis or mental illness like clinical depression is, its very much a real phenomenon. And Ive got berichterstattung for you, tis the season for post-graduation depressionAll of a sudden, you kind of realize you dont have anything to do, youve just been laying in bed all day and saying that youre going to look for jobs. I realized something was wrong when I waslooking for jobsbut elend really trying hard, college grad, Gina*, now 24, recalls of her experience with post-college depression. I got into this mindset where I was thinking,What makes me think that Ill get this job over the million other creatives in New York City?I didnt have any routine. Every day I was less and less motivated until I was watching full seasons of Netflix all day long. I was sleeping until 5 pm and up until 4 amhaving panic attacks.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraSadly, Christinas experience is far from uncommon.Graduating is a huge life changeLife transitions can be stressfuland triggering for anyone - even people who dont have a pre-existing mental illness. Graduating from college and entering the real world is perhaps one of the fruchtwein jarring life transitions a young adult can face.Rachel ONeill, Ph.D., explains, Change, in general, can bring about feelings of sadness. College graduation represents a major life transition and with that transition can come feelings of sadness or concern about the future. For many, graduating college can mean that multiple aspects of their life change relatively quickly (i.e., finding a new place to live, starting a new job, meeting new people). In essence, this becomes a bit of change-overload and it can be overwhelming for many individuals to navigate these additional stressors.Graduating can also bring rejectionAnother unfortunate stressor?Rejection. While a lucky bunch easily finds jobs soon after graduation, a lot of grads have to deal with rejection - and a lot of it. Getting rejected from job applications and interviews can take a serious toll on ones self-esteem - and rejection is even more common in some industries than others (to the graduates who are fellow writershang in there)Signs and Symptoms of Post-Graduate DepressionWhether a recent grad is coping with rejection and trying to get a job or navigating the struggles of their first real job that theyve already landed, post-college depression has a few diff erent ways it can manifest.Individuals who are experiencing post-college sadness might notice that they feel sad or disconnected from their previous lifestyle as a college student however, often they will be able to find joy in other areas of their life (for example, spending time with family or friends), ONeill says. If an individual feels pretty sad and depressed and isnt finding joy in other areas of their life, then it could be agood opportunity to talk with a mental health professional.Not finding enjoyment in things that used to bring you enjoyment is one of the many telltale signs of depression, and could be a sign that what youre experiencing is more than just the blues. Talkspace therapist Cynthia Catchings, LCSW-S, warns, Addiction or substance abuse is a common sign. Graduating college creates a void in our life. Therefore, we might turn to things or activities so to fill this void. It can be alcohol, cigarettes, or any other type of drug or activity.Looking for another i ndicator to determine if your post-college blues could be headed towardsclinical depression? Clinical depression is characterized by feelings of despondency and dejection that prevent us from completing our daily activities and interfere with work or relationships. The latter usually lasts longer and is more notorious, Catchings says. So if you feel like you are really struggling day-to-day and having trouble doing even the most basic of things, its time to seek help from a mental health professional.How to Address Post-Graduate DepressionNo matter what level of sadness youre experiencing, its important to really check in and take care of yourself. Give yourself space to feel the emotions.Mindfulness practices can be really helpful in identifying emotions withoutjudging them. Emotions are natural reactions to things that are going on in life, ONeill advises. Instead of trying to escape the emotion, allow yourself to experience it while also thinking about how you can commit to focus ing on your future. I also like incorporating extra self-care during times of heightened stress and sadness - things like daily affirmations or gratitude practices can be super helpful.Catchings has some advice, too. One of the tips that I recommend to recent graduates is to add structure to their lives. Try to go to bed or wake up around the same time every day and create a schedule that not only works for you but that also allows you to work on and reach your professional goals. Another tip is to make sure that you eat at least three meals a day around the same time. That helps us to stay healthy but also to prevent emotional eating oreating disorders due to depression or anxiety. If you want to be even more proactive, she suggests, Create a dream board or a timeline. This will allow you to set daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.If youve recently graduated and started to feel this way - its okay. I promise you that youre not alone. I bet if you open up to some of your clos e friends who are fellow graduates, youll learn that some of them feel the same way. Give yourself a big pat on the back for finishing college - its a huge accomplishment As the pros said, allow yourself to feel all of the emotions and dont forget to practice extra self care. Now, go out there and face adulthood, youve got this.This article originally appeared on Talkspace.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people