Self-Help
On this page:
Counseling and Wellness offers a number of online workshops, information sheets, and self-help checklists.
Anxiety
Information Sheets & Self-Help Checklists
- Anxiety Disorders
- Cognitive Behavioral Strategies for Coping with Anxiety (PDF)
- Managing Traumatic Stress
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Trauma and Recovery
- Coping with Secondary/Vicarious Trauma
- Helping others struggling with Trauma-Related Stress
Depression
The word "depression" is commonly understood as feelings of sadness, disappointment, hopelessness, grief, and fatigue. These experiences may be felt by many college students and all of those emotions vary in some degrees from student to student. This can provide important information about how we are reacting to what is happening around us. For example, you received a low grade on a test for which you had diligently prepared. The difference is when someone experiences these feelings most days for several weeks. Consistent depressive feelings can become significantly problematic in areas such as interpersonal relationships, school, and/or work.
Depressive Symptoms
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
- Considerably less interest in activities that were once enjoyable
- Significant change in weight
- Inability to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Visibly accelerated or slowed movements and speech
- Fatigue and/or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Excessive and/or inappropriate guilt
- Trouble thinking, concentrating or making decisions
- Recurring thoughts of death and/or thoughts of suicide
One does not have to experience all of these symptoms to be depressed and there may be some differences in how people experience depression. But, if you are experiencing a few of these symptoms, it may be beneficial to take some action.
What can I do about it?
- Depression is one of the most common reasons for seeking mental health treatment. Depression is treatable and individuals with such symptoms are usually able to find relief from their symptoms.
- Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) is here to help. Often you may find that there are no simple answers to your problems, however, talking to a therapist can result in finding new ways to look at problems as well as identifying suggestions and possible solutions. Therapy and/or psychological assessment are available to Wright State University students.
Eating Disorders
College is a setting where many students can develop eating disorders. This affects both women and men, and a vast majority do not seek help or do not realize the extent of this issue. Students with eating disorders take such concerns to extremes, developing abnormal eating habits that threaten their well-being and even their lives. Starting at a new university can create a wide range of situations that precipitate eating disorders in susceptible individuals through, stress, high standards, dysfunctional relationships, low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness, and intense dissatisfaction with the way they look.
Common Eating Disorders
- Anorexia Nervosa: Characterized by an unhealthy fixation on thinness, distorted body image, and fears of gaining weight, this disorder results in disturbed eating behaviors and emaciation.
- Bulimia Nervosa: This is a binge eating disorder, involving recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food, followed by behavior that compensates for binging, like purging, fasting, or over-exercising.
- Binge Eating Disorder: BED is characterized by constant cravings that occur any time of day and that then results in binge eating. This is often associated with poor body image and low self-esteem
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of eating disorders vary by person and condition. However, there are several red flags that are common factors for anorexia, bulimia, and binging.
- Distorted or poor body image
- Excessive exercise
- Irregular heartbeats
- Dehydration
- Feeling like eating is out of control
- Fear of eating in public
- Constantly making excuses for eating habits
Many college students do not seek treatment for their eating disorder, nor do they believe they’ve developed a problem. Eating disorders are potentially life-threatening and can contribute to serious health issues if not treated properly. Here are some signs to look for that could indicate an eating disorder:
- Are you skipping meals or only eating small portions?
- Are you suddenly uninterested in food?
- Are you limiting their meals to foods very low in calories?
- Are you taking diet pills excessively or medication that suppresses hunger? Does your friend disappear suddenly to the restroom after meals?
- Are your teeth noticeably stained?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be developing an eating disorder and it may be helpful to contact Counseling and Wellness Services (CWS) for a mental health assessment that can help determine if you are experiencing an eating disorder.
Many college students and young adults have a negative body image during their college years, it’s important to prevent problematic behaviors from evolving into full-fledged eating disorders.
Information Sheets and Self-Help Checklists
- Self-Care Strategies
- Mindfulness
- Alcohol-Related Disorders: Psychotherapy's Role in Effective Treatment
- Anger Management
- Chronic Pain and Mental Health
- Clinical Depression
- Coping with Suicide Loss
- Eating Disorders and Psychotherapy
- How psychotherapy helps people recover from Depression
