Give yourself credit for who you are; don’t hesitate to ask for help
by Josh Friedberg
I am writing this piece because over the past year or so I have sensed more people at Earlham feel out of place, as I have at times. As I see it, someone needs to speak out, and if we can create greater dialogue around issues of mental health, perhaps we can prevent students from feeling isolated, disconnected, or worse yet, desperate and suicidal.
I must acknowledge that my life has been rough in some ways, but easy in others. I have struggled with issues of sexuality, disability, depression, anxiety, body image and bullying. Simultaneously I have tremendous privilege by being a white owning-class male with a stable immediate family and an incredible support system of friends, role models and resources at Earlham and beyond.
So my struggles are very likely different than those of many, but nonetheless I have often felt out of place, disconnected, strange, and sometimes worthless. I have come out of hard times extremely fortunate to know that things do get better, no matter how bad things seem at the time. And again, I must acknowledge my privilege in having resources that place things that hurt in a wider perspective. But many aren’t aware of resources that exist. And while I’m no professional I thought I’d share some tips that have worked for me in fighting depression:
Give yourself credit for who you are and what you do. Create lists under the categories “I am _________,” “I do ________,” “I have _________,” and “I love ________.”
If you start noticing that you’re figuratively beating yourself up, replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations, because you can control your thoughts. Gratitude has also helped me get out of a sad mood plenty of times.
Call people if you need them; I can guarantee they would rather help you if at all possible than not know you are in pain until it is too late.
Exercise. Even walking is a fantastic antidote to depression because you take in more oxygen when you exercise.
Use available resources. Counseling Services are here for you, and if you struggle with feeling overwhelmed by work, the Center for Academic Enrichment can help with time management.
In closing, I want to say that if you are depressed, please do not hesitate to seek help. If you feel alone without direction, please reach out to resources around you, because you are not alone. Know that you are strong; you are worthy; and no matter what, you are loved.
Josh Friedberg is a junior English major and can be reached at jdfried06@earlham.edu
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