Skip to Content

Depression - Frequently Asked Questions

See also:

  • Swin-eCounselling Resource page on Depression.
  • Swin-eCounselling Resource page on Suicide.

Q. I have been feeling very flat lately. I broke up with my boyfriend two weeks ago and I'm not motivated to do anything. I don't want to get out of bed. Do you think I am depressed?

A. Dear Student,
Clinical depression is not just about feeling down now, it is a mental, emotional and physical state that is intense, long-lasting and seriously affects daily life. It is a pervasive despair, not just a mood that someone can snap out of readily. It is also important to distinguish depression from the sadness naturally experienced after a loss, such as the break up from the relationship with your boyfriend.

I would suggest that you make a time to see a counsellor to further discuss your concerns about being depressed. More importantly, if you have suicidal thoughts, I would suggest that you see your GP as soon as possible, to discuss these issues further. If possible, try to get out of the house, do some exercise (e.g., walking, jogging) and talk to people close to you.

Back to Top

Q. I am depressed and recently my counsellor suggested that I start taking anti-depressants. I am very worried about it and don't want to take medication. What should I do?

A. Dear Student,
Sometimes professionals recommend anti-depressants, in conjunction with counselling, because one aspect of depression is a change in the balance of chemicals in the brain, which impact on mood and can contribute to feeling low, sad and fatigued. Antidepressant medications are drugs that help restore the chemical balance and alleviate biological symptoms of depression.

I would suggest that if you have been feeling depressed for a long time, and therapy hasn't helped, medication could help alleviate these symptoms. Also, if you have suicidal thoughts, it is critical that you start medication to help you stop having suicidal thoughts. I recommend that you discuss your concerns further with your counsellor, or get a second opinion.

Back to Top

Q. I need some advice on how to tell my family that I have depression, am on tablets for it, and am having trouble at uni. I am scared that they will blame it on me and not understand. Recently they have been using terms such as "sicko", "psycho" etc. and at a recent dinner, I mentioned depression and they just ridiculed the situation, so I know that they won't understand. If they find out they will most likely bring it up during every little fight we have and tease me about it. I feel that I have to tell them because it is getting very hard to hide the fact that I am struggling with uni. I am the only child in the family to get in to uni, which really puts the pressure on me to succeed.

A. Dear Student,
It seems as though you are feeling a lot of pressure, both at home and at uni. Naturally you would be worried about how your family will react to your news about your situation, but it might help to remember that you are an adult and that you can choose who to tell.

It does seem that it is very important to you to tell your family that you are depressed and that you are finding uni difficult. It might be helpful to make an appointment to see a counsellor at Swinburne to discuss this some more. This service is free for students, and a counsellor can help you plan the best way to tell your family about your depression and your troubles at uni so that they will be more likely to understand your position.

You don't say what is causing you to find uni difficult but there may be some things you can do to help. You can talk to your lecturers who can help you with your academic situation, or if you are behind in your work, you can apply for Special Consideration. The form for this is available from your faculty office. You would need to have this form signed by a counsellor, who can also help you with you study problems.

Back to Top

Q. Up until a month ago I was taking anti-depressant medication. In hind sight I stopped taking this medication a bit too abruptly. As a result in the last couple of weeks I have been feeling really emotionally confused. The emotions vary from being frustrated and angry to being overjoyed with life, and a lot of the time I feel like crying. Either way these raw emotions are much stronger than what I have been used to whilst on the medication. I am confident in time it will past or I will get readjusted to it. However most of all I am worried that the teaching and other staff might find me odd, and this first impression might, in some way, cause me problems further down the track either in the course or when applying for a job. I worry that they might think that I’m taking something, when ironically the opposite is true. Should I disclose this information to my teachers?

A. Dear Student,
It sounds as if stopping your medication suddenly has caused all sorts of problems for you.  If you feel that disclosing your current situation to your teachers will put you in a better position with them, then it may indeed be worthwhile doing.  On the other hand, some people unfortunately still do not really understand the nature of mental illness, and the associated treatments, so it is understandable that you are still a little cautious about how your teachers may react. It sounds like this decision is causing you some stress, however, and you are worried that people won’t understand why you are behaving a certain way and may judge you because of it, but there are some options available to help you make the decision you feel most comfortable with.

First of all, I strongly recommend that you go back to your doctor who prescribed the anti-depressants to you to discuss your reasons for stopping the medication, and see if he/she can suggest some alternatives for you - it may be that you are suffering some nasty withdrawal effects from the medication, which could be avoided. 

It may also be helpful for you to make an appointment see a counsellor at Student Services to talk about your situation and help you to decide whether you want to disclose your current situation to your teachers. If you decide that you do want to disclose this to your teachers, the counsellor may be able to approach them on your behalf, or help you develop strategies to tell your teachers yourself.  Remember that this decision is totally up to you, but it can be hard to make such an important decision on your own so please feel free to make an appointment with a counsellor to have a chat about it.

Back to Top