Dear Badger,

‘What’s the point?’ a phrase that as university students we mutter to ourselves daily, from the moment we wake up for our 9am whilst battling through the intense hangover drilling into our skulls, until our heads hit our cardboard like pillows lying limply on top of the pile of bricks we are lead to believe is a mattress. 

However for the 1 in 10 people that are affected by depression, this is a phrase that has a much deeper rooted significance. As a sufferer of depression myself I have lost count of the times that this phrase has shook through my head along with the inevitable hangover that greets  me in the morning. Its hard, and there are often days where it feels too much and that the weight of the every day presses down on you more and more but I would like to take this opportunity to say that there is a point although sometime it is hidden much like the bright warmth of the sun behind the veil of grey that is the clouds, and that there are a few things you can do to make the every day not only easier but more enjoyable.

It may seem obvious but have a good breakfast every day. What may seem like an intense low mood can often be because your head is not functioning properly and you would be surprised how much yummy food can put a smile on your face and make the rest of the day seem easy to conquer. (I would highly recommend Nutella)

Don’t hide away in your room. It is easy to feel like there is little point to anything when you are sitting staring at the same 4 walls for an entire day. If you feel like you have accomplished something it can notably improve your mood, even if it is something small like meeting with a friend for a coffee. Company can never be a bad thing.

Mild exercise. Although it would be hypocritical of me to start recommending that everyone join the gym considering how unfit I am myself, it is proven that exercise can improve mood (there is science behind it I promise).  I prefer taking a stroll through the woods that surround campus, it is less draining and allows you to see that there is more to the world than the fears and anxieties that you often get caught up in.

Finally, don’t put so much pressure on yourself. Remember that you are not alone in what you are feeling and  that it gets better, but in time. Nobody is perfect and that there will be ups and downs, but please don’t consume yourself with thoughts of what’s the point, because there is.

Ruth Eleanor 

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