Depression is causing me to be stupid. Should I drop out of college?

Question

I had hopes of going to grad school and at one time I was very determined to make good grades, but this semester, I have been overwhelmed with depression and anxiety so much that it has affected my ability to concentrate and think critically. I am usually an A and B student, I did have a 3.6 overall GPA, but now I know that it will fall significantly after this semester's final grades are calculated. I managed to pull a 3.9 GPA last semester, but this semester I am expecting below a 3.0, maybe in the low 2.0 range. I feel like a total failure, and I feel like my entire life has been ruined. Sometimes I feel like I can't go on. Should I drop out of school for a semester and concentrate on my mental health or just keeping going and make below average grades?

Answer 1

You should take care of your depression first. You can make the decision on what to do with school later. When you're depressed, naturally you feel like you want to just drop everything and crawl up in a corner. You will be making much healthier choises once you're less depressed. Taking care of your mental health doesn't need to be a full-time job. It's just a visit to the doctor's office once a week or once in a while. What are you planning to do with the rest of your time?
You are on so -called downward spiral: you feel crappy, hence you don't want to do anything, that makes you feel even crappier. If you drop out of school now you will just add another round to this spiral.

You have many options other than continue as it is or dropping out alltogether. You might look into taking a leave of absence for a semester (keep in mind that coming back is harder than continuing. I've done that.). You might look into re-taking some courses that messed up your GPA. You might ask about an extension on your coursework for this semester. If you get like a month extra you can take care of your depression and then take your tests. Go to a psychiatrists and bring it up with them.
Poor GPA is not the end of the world either. I got into good grad school with less-than outstanding GPA.

Answer 2

Even if you do not graduate with honors, it certainly does NOT mean that your life is ruined! Far from it! I graduated with my bachelors degree from college despite a mental health hospitalization which could have derailed the whole plan if my family and I had let it. Some classes are just harder than others, and employers know it.
I've often heard that employers would rather hire someone with lower grades but more extracurricular activities than someone with higher grades and no extracurricular activities.
Also, if you get an internship and excel at that internship, that experience may easily prove more valuable than your GPA.
Keep going, stay the course, and do the very best you can.
Hang in there.

Answer 3

sometimes in life I think people really need to take time out of our busy and taxing schedules for ourselves.

If you really feel as though your grades are suffering due to the way you feel, I think taking some time off might not be the worst idea. Grades seem to be important to you, and succeeding in what you want to do is obviously important to most people. If you keep going on this way with the dropping grades due to the depression, the depression increasing due to the dropping grades, it will only serve to perpetuate the cycle.

Take some time off, work a little, play a lot, and just enjoy life. Allow yourself the time to find the beauty and joy in things again, just don't lose focus on your goals.

hope things get better for you.

Answer 4

That's the depression talking, honey. It's caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, nothing more.

Dropping out of college would be the worst thing you could do. That might REALLY ruin your life. Go to a counselor, a trusted teacher or professor, or your school's medical office and tell them you need to see someone about this. Depression is easily treated with medication and/or therapy. It's also pretty common in college students, especially the high achievers.

Please get yourself some help asap. I promise--PROMISE--you'll be surprised at how quickly you can become your old self again.

I know. I've been there.

Answer 5

You are doing great and continue to do so. One only needs to seek counseling about what is ailing you and help yuo to overcome. You did not mention the problem so one cannot weight that but boost your mentality and concentrate on what is most important to you. If it is a family matter or health or other issues then putting school on hold may be needed to help you overcome because it will help your grades to stay looking good. then again perhaps you can take only part time studies while overcoming your depression and anxiety.

Answer 6

There aren't many Truly self confident people out there, alot of people act it but few people can honestly say they are happy with them selves, it's all about how you think of yourself. Try focusing on the positives about yourself, I know that sounds lame, but everyone has good aspects of themselves, it's just that alot of us only focus on the negatives. I'd recommend you drop the dope, at least until you can get things back on track. Like you said, if you seek help the drugs will be the first thing they tell you to stop, especially dope - it has so many mental illnesses associated with it, it might make you feel better but it might also be the cause of alot of your issues. I'd recommend you go see your GP and tell him how badly you're feeling - he will probably ask you to fill out a psychological profile sheet, they are usually only 1-2 pages and very simple, from there he can reccomend whether or not you need treatment and medication. If you tell them you're happy to quit the drugs and get back on track, they will mostly likely do everything in their power to help you. Make sure they know you want to get better, and not just looking for them to do all the work. I'm not one for religion, but if you are it can be very helpful, the best thing you can have in your life is a sense of meaning, so getting back to school will be a big help too. Best of luck, and understand it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but it's there.

Answer 7

Take some time off, and get well again. There's no point in killing yourself to stay in class. Talk to your advisor, and see if you can take a medical leave and start over again in the fall with the classes you're in. Most schools will allow you to retake a class, up to a full load, if you have health problems. I had a friend who did that at VCU (social work).

Answer 8

have u spoken to a counselor or psychologist, do u know whats stressing u...?
i have tmj and i had to drop one sememster now im back to school... if u absolutely feel u cant go on like this and need time to rest/solve ur problems then u might consider taking a break... i dont know about ur life situation but a semester delayed is not too terrible
hope u get well soon

Answer 9

It would be better to drop out for a while and get your head straight. Just to let you know I have had depression for at least 9 years. From my experience if you stay in school it will just get worse but if you take some time off and get some help you can come back and finish what you started!

Answer 10

talk to someone for help getting over it. if it's a new thing, like you've only had it for a while now it may not be real depression, you may just be feeling down. once in everybodys life, they'll feel like giving up. so this may be a phase you'll make it through. just try, and focus on the good things, and think about what you really want in life and go for it.