How To Handle Depression At Portland State

Starting college is a huge milestone in a person’s life. You’re swept up by a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, fear, optimism, anxiousness, and so on. But having to juggle those feelings along with depression can put a serious dark cloud over your college experience. Luckily, I’ve found a few solutions that could help students at Portland State University deal with their darker days, and maybe even turn those dreary days into sunny ones. Keep reading for how to handle depression at Portland State!

Hit up the Rec Center!

This may seem like an odd recommendation, but trust me, it’s a great one! Working out releases endorphins, which trigger a positive feeling in your body AKA making you feel happy. Exercising will go a long way in how to handle depression at Portland State. The Rec Center at PSU is incredible and has something for all fitness levels and interests! There’s yoga, weights, a bounty of machines, Zumba, and so on. Be sure to check out this site for more information on events, as well as this term’s program schedule!

Sign up for that club you always wanted to try!

I can’t even begin to tell you how many upperclassmen at PSU have urged me to sign up for a club or intramural. There are SO MANY clubs and activities to choose from, and cater to everyone at our diverse and cultural campus. From kickboxing to cricket, tango to bouldering, multicultural organizations to groups advocating feminism; you name it, Portland State’s got it! Joining a club will not only get you more involved at your school, but it will also help you make new friends and, most importantly, get you out of bed, which can be hard to do when you’re feeling depressed.

Chow down!

I know how this looks, just hear me out. Personally, there are certain foods that make me feel better after eating them. Now, I’m not recommending you go to Voodoo Doughnuts and eat a dozen apple fritters just because you’re feeling down. I’m thinking more along the lines of eating food that is good for you, like fruits, vegetables, and so on. Eating foods that are high in nutrients will make you feel good physically, which will translate mentally. And since Portland has amazing produce all around the city, you should have no trouble finding your healthy fix. In fact, on the second Monday of each month, Portland State hosts Harvest Share, which provides free fresh fruits and vegetables to PSU students. But to be honest, if a Voodoo Doughnut trip will make you feel better, by all means, treat ‘yo self.

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Put your health first and visit SHAC!

For those who don’t know, SHAC is the Center for Student Health and Counseling. If your depression is starting to take over your college experience, head over to SHAC as soon as possible. All you have to do is walk in, fill out a few forms, and you’ll be set up with a counselor who will assess your mental health issues. After that meeting, you’ll be matched with a professional from SHAC who will contact you about making further appointments. They are fully equipped to teach you how to handle depression at Portland State.

I know this may seem daunting, but the staff is very friendly and personable and work to make you feel as comfortable as possible. All information is confidential, with a few caveats being suicide or harming yourself/others. Walk-in hours for counseling are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on all week days excluding Thursday, which only have hours from 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. If you are having an emergency, you can call SHAC at anytime during hours of operation, which are weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dealing with depression in college is excruciating. It’s not easy being away from home, family and friends. But it’s important that you stick things out, give it some time, and be patient. College won’t feel like home right away, and that’s okay. Just stay positive, use your resources, and always put your mental health first.