5 Strategies for Managing Post-College Depression

You spend your childhood hearing you have to work hard and get good grades so you can get into college, so that's exactly what you do. You fill your time with study sessions and application-boosting extracurricular activities.

The time comes for you to apply and go to college. You make new friends and pick up new hobbies. You have experiences you will tell your grandchildren one day. Most importantly, you learn a great deal about who you are and what direction you want your life to go in. These may arguably be some of the best years of your life.

Then graduation happens and it’s time to be kicked out of the bird’s nest. Everything you know is significantly changing. It’s no surprise that depression rates are rising for those in that post-college age range of 18 to 25.

So how do you stop the graduation blues? Here are five helpful strategies to try.

Stay Connected

You’re going to make many important relationships during your time in college. It’s also very possible that you will all go in different directions across the country pursuing individual career paths.

Maintaining those relationships can prove helpful in times of emotional need or when you have a celebratory moment. These friends and acquaintances can become an added layer in your support system.

Get Involved

Going through college, you probably had a lot of activity to fill your time. In this new phase of life, your main responsibility is fulfilling your job duties and earning a good living. When you have too much free time, you may find yourself in a bit of a culture shock and this is when depression can start to creep in.

If you’re in a new city or surrounded by new people, it can be easy to become isolated. Find ways to get out and meet new people and fill your time. Join a local recreational sports league or a community club. Find volunteer opportunities and network with professional organizations. You can even explore meetup apps similar to online dating that can help you make friends.

Create a Routine

A lot of freedom comes with college life, but you also have a very structured routine. When you step into adulthood and you’re the only one truly dictating how your day looks, it can feel overwhelming.

Create a routine that will give you a sense of structure like you had in college but also a purpose for your life. Get on a consistent sleep schedule. Establish an exercise routine. Eat a healthy diet. Incorporate activities that bring you joy and connection.

Set Realistic Goals

If one thing is certain, it’s that you still have a lot to learn about life after college graduation. We’re often told we can take on the world and be anything we want to be. It’s important to remember that kind of success doesn’t come overnight.

Many graduates struggle to find jobs right away or in the exact field or role they want. It can take time to earn the money you want to be making. You may have to wait to find the perfect apartment. All of these can fuel feelings of depression.

Try breaking your big long-term goals into smaller, more achievable ones. Having realistic expectations of yourself can help combat any negative feelings and allows you to see progress more appropriately.

Speak with a Professional

Depression can be managed through certain coping strategies and lifestyle changes. If you start to feel like your depression is getting worse or you’re feeling constantly overwhelmed, you may need a little more help to overcome it.

Through depression therapy interventions, we can work on identifying the root cause of these feelings and create healthy coping strategies. If this sounds helpful to you, contact us today to learn more about therapy for young adults and get your journey started.