By Shirleena Baggett |Staff Writer|

Books, exams, debts and depression—the perks of college life.

Last fall, my life was moving along without me; I was a wreck, drained in every aspect, and knew I needed to get help.

Forty-four percent of college students experience symptoms of depression, according to an article on healthline.com “Depression in College Students.”

Attending school is a transitional period for us all. Whether it is moving away from our family for the first time, to enduring the stress that comes along with getting decent grades, to of course the rise and fall of relationships and friendships.

It is a lot—and there is no real way to be “ready” for it all.

The truth is, many students find themselves troubled by bouts of situational depression and anxiety.

Depression, as defined by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), is a condition in which a person feels discouraged, sad, hopeless, unmotivated or disinterested in life in general.

To solve these issues, it is suggested to seek counseling, and we Coyotes are fortunate to have the support from our Psychological Counseling Center.

Statistics show that 75 percent of students do not even report or seek help, according to healthline.com.

I have no doubt that our world of unnecessary pressures recreates the images of the false reality created on Instagram and Facebook is the mastermind behind the thoughtless and disturbing stigma that comes along with getting “help.”

Acknowledging that there is a need is the first step in the right direction, but often we are often so caught up in what our friends will think or how they will see us, we do not make our health a priority.

I believe that no one should go through it alone. Unfortunately many do, which should not be the case, especially when we have access to resources.

In my first quarter here, I was beyond stressed. Moving out here by myself, losing my job and being homesick had me feeling all alone. This left me angry, sad, frustrated, mean, irritable and just not happy. I suffered from migraines all day, lost control of my thoughts and could not stop eating Fast 5 Pizza.

The first step was not easy, but I am forever grateful that I decided to make that phone call. What I enjoyed the most is that no one in the counseling center treats you like you have a “problem.”

The graduate student counselor I met with was outstanding and really provided me with the listening ear I needed.

Attending the session helped me to focus and get clarity of my real issues and see things from a different perspective.

“The services here at school have helped me become more social and accepting of myself. Therapy has helped me love myself for who I am,” said student Jennifer Andrade.

The life of a college student is stressful, but it does not have to be so overwhelming that you no longer enjoy your time here. In my opinion, it is up to us to not only take care of ourselves but to also advocate for the people around us.

I urge you, please do not ignore the warning signs.

There is help and there is hope.