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How can I focus to be able to finish college when dealing with depression?

AH_1430992514968190761_562_14External User
How can I focus to be able to finish college when dealing with depression?  I really want to be successful and make the Dean's list but I struggle daily to sit down with homework.  Also retaining information given.  My anxiety kicks in when I can not focus. Pleas any help is appreciated.
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Avatar universal
Do you have an anxiety problem mostly, or a depression problem mostly?  Are you seeing a therapist to help you deal with it?  I do have a personal experience with this -- I actually went to graduate school and law school to get away from depressed thinking.  I just wanted to lose myself in something productive at the time.  Which is to say, sometimes it helps to change the way you think about things.  School can be very high pressure if your goal is to make the Dean's List, but not so much if you make the Dean's List because you enjoy learning and work hard at that.  One puts pressure on you and the other takes it off.  Learning is really useful, but it's also pretty much all there is to do in life that makes any sense.  It's fun.  If you follow sports at all, the best athletes take the pressure off by working really hard but also by loving the game.  School is the same -- love the game, and the rest will come naturally.  So anxiety doesn't kick in when you can't focus, it's why you aren't focusing.  Focusing will prevent your mind for that period of time from thinking anxious thoughts.  But that's all short-term stuff, the long-term cure is fixing the way you think, and therapy is the place to start if you want to do that.  All the best.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Do you have an anxiety problem mostly, or a depression problem mostly?  Are you seeing a therapist to help you deal with it?  I do have a personal experience with this -- I actually went to graduate school and law school to get away from depressed thinking.  I just wanted to lose myself in something productive at the time.  Which is to say, sometimes it helps to change the way you think about things.  School can be very high pressure if your goal is to make the Dean's List, but not so much if you make the Dean's List because you enjoy learning and work hard at that.  One puts pressure on you and the other takes it off.  Learning is really useful, but it's also pretty much all there is to do in life that makes any sense.  It's fun.  If you follow sports at all, the best athletes take the pressure off by working really hard but also by loving the game.  School is the same -- love the game, and the rest will come naturally.  So anxiety doesn't kick in when you can't focus, it's why you aren't focusing.  Focusing will prevent your mind for that period of time from thinking anxious thoughts.  But that's all short-term stuff, the long-term cure is fixing the way you think, and therapy is the place to start if you want to do that.  All the best.
Helpful - 0
973741 tn?1342342773
My son has similar problems. He tends to have a harder time doing well when he is topped out with anxiety. I think having some outlets might help you. Like getting outside for some exercise when you can. Laughing with a friend. Touching base with your mom through a phone call (she'll love that. :>)  My son is high achieving but has to work at it. He puts a lot of pressure on himself. It's internal.  He also claims it is what helps him maintain his success. Keeps him on edge.  Pushes him. So, anxiety can be energy to use in a positive way too. I had a psychologist tell my son to view anxiety as the third person in their life. To tell anxiety that sometimes you don't have time for it because you have things you HAVE to do right now. Then dig deep to the things you need to work on.  
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