Although Terwelp's depression has caused him to lose friends and his first marriage, it didn't keep him from earning college degrees. While he is using medication as one treatment to recovery, he says his ability to cope has led to most of his triumphs in life. Even though it was difficult initially, his wife and three stepchildren have become more educated about the disease, which helps him get through his days. "I have good days, and I have bad days," he says. "It's kind of like a heart condition in that this is always with me."
Because Terwelp has accepted that this is a disease he will have to deal with forever, he has devoted much time to helping other people who experience depression. He heads a bipolar support group and volunteers at the Mental Health
funded in part by the KU student fee. Students can call or visit the center at any time of the day to talk about anything. Epstein has heard problems that range from students who are stressed-out over finals, to roommate problems, to students who are contemplating suicide. Epstein says that the term depression is used loosely. "Everybody goes through hard times like break-ups and separation," she says. "The difference between hard times and a medical depression is when a person has these intense feelings of sadness for a long time."
Epstein says the first step in seeking help is telling someone about your problems. More often than not concerned friends are frequent callers of Headquarters because they are worried that their peers may be depressed.
proven to be affective, but patients are often tempted to stop medication too soon. They may feel better and think they no longer need to take the medication. Anti-depressants must be taken for at least four-to-nine months to prevent reoccurrence of the depression. People with major depression and bipolar disorder may have to take the anti-depressant medication indefinitely.
Keep in mind that depression is highly individualized. Each person who develops the disease is affected by it in different ways. Linda Waxse, counselor at Park University in Parkville, Mo., says there are certain times when students are prone to mild depression, such as during midterms and finals. "Kids come to college now with a lot more problems than they did in the past because there is so
When I was REALLY SICK, some of my family members thought that this was a game that I was playing. I would sometimes TRY TO HIDE IT from them. It was JUST EASIER that way. JoAnn Howley
Association of the Heartland in Kansas City, Kan. "It helps me to work with others who are dealing with depression," he says. "I hear of worse situations all the time, and I feel lucky to be where I am."
Major depression is characterized as a combination of depression symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy once pleasurable activities. It is seldom chronic, but its severity is often disabling. An episode of depression may occur only once in a person's life, but more commonly occurs several times in a lifetime. Death, divorce and separation are common triggers of major depression episodes.
Marsha Epstein, director of Headquarters in Lawrence, deals with depressed people every day. Headquarters is a help center that is
Epstein suggests that friends should express concern and care. She admits that this may seem threatening, but it's best to seek help for them. "It's better to have a mad friend than a dead friend," she says.
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses among college students. According to a study by the National Student Health Assessment of nearly 20,000 students, 15.7 percent of them have been diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives. Also, depression ranked sixth among the top impediments to academic performance.
Several types of treatments are used to treat depression. Psychotherapy, medication and counseling can help those who suffer from all types of depression. Antidepressant medications have been
much more dysfunction in the world," Waxse says. Waxse is not alone, North America's college counseling centers reported an increase in troubled students according to psychologist Robert Gallagher of the University of Pittsburgh. His 2001 survey of counseling centers shows that 85 percent of his colleges report an increase during the past five years in students with severe psychological problems. Waxse sees more and more students with depressive illnesses each semester. She stresses that students talk to someone about their depressive feelings, whether it's a residence advisor, teacher, roommate or professional counselor.
-Megan Hickerson, Jayplay writer, can be reached at mhickerson@kansan.com
thursday, october 16, 2003
jayplay 17