<p>I have severe social anxiety and depression. I began college last week and dropped out/left once, but came back. I had to stay at a hotel because my family won't support me at all if I'm not in school. I don't know if I can handle this... I'm trying to switch my schedule to all online classes so then I can focus on schoolwork without the anxiety but I'm still in a very bad place. I'm not sure if I can stay or if I'll have to drop out again and try to survive on my own. I'm seeing a counselor at the school, by the way. Any advice?</p>
<p>Your posting history shows me that you have worked very hard to get to a place where you are beginning a new colege experience. Congratulations on all you have done to get to this place.</p>
<p>I know little else about your situation but you sound deeply anxious about everything that is happening right now. The best thing you are doing is communicating with a counselor at your college. One advantage of being at a school is that you have ready access to these helpful resources. Please use them as much as you can -even daily. These resources can help you sort out some of the things that are driving how you are feeling.</p>
<p>The anxiety and depression will get better. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>Force yourself to join an interesting club. If you’re religious, attend church. Talk to your family about your anxiety. See if you can see a psychiatrist and take some pills. My girlfriend does to help her with anxiety.</p>
<p>Keep going to a counselor. Go further if you need to. This might include psychiatrist. Depression isn’t something that can be fixed by going to a club. </p>
<p>I’ve been fighting depression and anxiety from middle school. It never goes away but you have to learn to manage it. </p>
<p>Do you have any support system at all?</p>
<p>Cant run away from your family. No matter how hard it is you need to get backing of your family. The more you think, the worse it will get. Interact with people as much as you can.
You lie in your room thinking about the issues over and over, which will definitely not help.</p>
<p>Look into resources provided by your school’s counseling center. There may be group therapy/support groups, a lending library, or a peer to peer support option. Talk with your RA and let them know what is going on, they may be able to help you in some way. Work with the counselor you are seeing to devise a plan for what to do when you feel anxious/depressed and alternative options to the best plan.
Many people struggle with depression/anxiety. When I went off to college it was very difficult for me and I was suicidal for most of my first year. If you deal with this now, in a proactive way, you can avoid the pitfalls a large number of students make while dealing with mental health issues. I wish you the best of luck.</p>
<p>If you can’t function, and you can’t if you just up and leave college, then it is time to try meds. Don’t delay. Do it in tandem with cognitive therapy for max results.</p>
<p>Do not drop out, at least at college you have some resources available and a structure to work within. Not to mention a roof over your head. Just go to class each day do not skip. Worry about each day and focus on your school work and getting to that counseling.</p>
<p>Go to the counseling center and listen to what they tell you to do from there. Stay strong</p>
<p>I started a medication for a few days, but it caused me to pass out in the shower… I don’t want to try anymore prescription meds. Thanks for the encouragement, but now after the incident, I’ve been feeling bad physically and I lost the little focus I did have for my classes (I was able to switch to all online). I just feel like if it’s not my anxiety, it’s my depression…</p>
<p>Not all meds work the same. You need to go talk to your Dr. There are different classes of meds used for depression & anxiety, sometimes it takes a while to find one that works for you.</p>
<p>I’ve tried several meds over the years and the side effects have always been bad. I went to the school nurse and she said I’m probably sensitive to medications and it’d be hard to find one that works without bad side effects.</p>