Depressed about life, too busy to help myself.

by S.J.
(US)

I am in Pharmacy school, and it is a very busy program. Per semester we average about 9 courses, with extra presentations outside of class time, and I also work every weekend for good experience. I think I have been depressed for about 5 years now, and have never done anything about it. It has gotten to the point now however where I feel so hopeless.

Being in Pharmacy, I find it difficult to want to try medication, as it is a small community and everyone would likely find out. I barely have time to go grocery shopping... or go to the doctor when I am really ill, never mind spend time trying to help myself feel better. I guess my question is, what is a good first step to try and help me manage these feelings? I study so much that I really have lost contact with friends, I live alone, and I just feel like everything is about to spiral out of control.

Thanks for your time,
S.J.

Ben's Answer:

I know Pharmacy school is intense, and you seem to have to have no time for anything. But something's got to give. If you continue on at this pace, you will just train yourself to be a stressed out, anxious, depressed, unhappy person, running on the hamster wheel of life. You need to take a little time for yourself to really focus on the things that matter - first and foremost - your Self.

Seeing a therapist weekly could be a great place to start. Meditating 30 minutes a day would be another great way to shift things. Making time to develop a social life and see a friend on a regular basis would be another valuable thing to do. You see, anything you do - no matter how small - for your own True Self - will go a long way. A little bit of soul-fulness is worth more than a whole library full of lifeless knowledge.

EFT is another wonderful tool that you can use with a therapist or on your own, to shift your consciousness and help your depression and stress. You can learn more about EFT on this website.

Seize the moment! It won't suddenly get easier, unless you change your direction and focus on the things that really matter most in life.

Take Care,
Ben Schwarcz

Click here to post comments

Return to Ask a Therapist.

Share this page:
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.