<p>First, I'd like to say that I am in no way whining. This is something that's seriously been on my mind for years and I really have no idea what to do about it. </p>
<p>Although I haven't been clinically diagnosed, I'm positive that I've had some form of depression for about the last three years. I used to be fairly outgoing, but then I became anxious, withdrawn, and pretty much lost interest in everything. I had a lot of personal and family problems that occurred during those years and I was always alone. I went to school and either hung out in library by myself or had lunch in the bathroom if I felt too uncomfortable, and my parents were always at work when I came home. Every activity I joined felt forced, and I couldn't enjoy any of them. My parents and I don't have the best relationship and they aren't too keen on emotions, so they didn't really notice anything was wrong until I hurt myself toward the end of my senior year.</p>
<p>Despite this, I was able to maintain a strong academic record and I was accepted into my first choice school ( a top 10 university). I was excited, and I thought that a change in location would help change my feelings. I've been here for about a month, and I feel even worse. I can't focus, I have no energy, the material doesn't seem interesting, and I have these drastic mood swings that throw my whole schedule off. I really think that I should take a year off and get myself together, but I'm wondering how the process of withdrawal works? Would I be able to keep my spot for next year, or would I have to apply again as a freshman? Or should I just stay? I feel really stupid leaving within the first semester, but I feel like I'm just wasting time and money.</p>
<p>You should go to your campus counseling center and get treatment/assessment. This isn’t the time to transfer. It’s the time to get a diagnosis and treatment. If you have a medical or psychological problem, transferring isn’t the cure.</p>
<p>Absolutely, echoing what others have said, a diagnosis of clinical depression is made after just 2 weeks, if you’ve been feeling this way for 3 years that sounds like dysthmic disorder (which is basically major depression lasting at least 2 years with no break longer than a month), but I am not a licensed psychologist (yet). Seek help from the counselors and take it from there</p>
<p>It’s apparent that the problem this time is part of the 35% that friends and weed can’t cure.</p>
<p>You should have sought professional help in high school, but it’s still not too late to get it in college. Better sooner than later, before the effects cause something permanently detrimental to your college life. Taking a year off would be the most extreme situation, but if you can’t focus on schoolwork while undergoing therapy [or whatever they suggest for you] then there’s nothing you can do but drop out. Staying without doing anything is just as bad, if not worse.</p>
<p>Kollegekid1 may be chronically depressed with minor symptoms of stupidity, but you have something more deleterious. Do not be afraid to seek out professional help immediately.</p>
<p>Just go get help. No big deal. I’m sure therapy or medication can work wonders. You don’t have to take a year off, especially because if you’re still having problems at the end of the year you really won’t want to go back to school.</p>
<p>And PS, friends and weed really do help. I’m a proud member of the 65%. :)</p>
<p>I think people think they have a problem when they really dont. Pschologists just talk to you and then you have to pay them alot and they make you take drugs. I dont think doing pot is a good idea. It makes it harder to study and you might get lazy and not do you work and play video games all day.</p>
<p>And what did i say before that got you so offended hemeforadite?</p>