Getting To Know The Term Post-Graduation Depression, A Melanda Depression After Graduating

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JAKARTA - It seems contrary to the intuition that achieving a goal like graduation can cause symptoms of depression. However, many young people who have just graduated experience a period of sadness after leaving the comfort of going to school and being together with friends at school.

Post-graduation depression or post-graduation depression is also known as "sadness when you graduate from school". You are not alone if you feel life after school does not go as expected.

Although it is not clear how many graduates experience mood disorders during the transition period after school, statistics show that young adults experience depression at a higher level than the average.

For example, data from 2005 2020 from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), according to Psych Central, Tuesday, October 22, shows that adults aged 18 to 25 experience more episodes of severe depression than other age groups. This difference has increased in recent years to about double the general population level.

If post-graduate depression symptoms interfere with your ability to function properly, you may experience a type of situational depression. This type of short-term mood and energy suppression is not the same as a diagnosis of severe depression (MDD).

MDD is a clinical diagnosis of depression with various causes and symptoms that persist or repeat. However, if you experience post-smooth sadness or situational depression, you will most likely feel better after adjusting to life after graduation. If you experience symptoms of depression for more than 2 weeks, it might be a good idea to seek support from a mental health professional.

Depression can affect a person's mood, cognition, and even physical health.

Symptoms of depression include:

The severity of the symptoms can vary in each person. It could be that you only experience one or two of all types of symptoms but some feel a lot of symptoms. What needs to be remembered, your experience can be different from that of others.

There are several reasons why you experience sadness after graduation.

Unemployment

Although some people graduate with promising jobs, this does not apply to everyone. If you are a graduate and unemployed for some time, of course this can be very burdensome for the mind.

According to research from 2015, unemployed young adults are three times more likely to experience depression than those who have jobs. Young adults are defined as people aged 18 to 25 years.

Financial stress

Financial stress is a common experience for graduates. Having a job at the end of the post-medium school program may not even eliminate concerns about money. Many graduates are faced with student loan payments that are included in their living expenses, which are often funded by low-paying jobs and novice levels.

A review of 2022 from 40 observational studies found a positive relationship between financial stress and depression in adults. This relationship is stronger in low socio-economic groups.

Loss of social support

Research relates the lack of social support to mental health problems such as depression. Graduation is when students leave their age groups to start a new life as working adults.

Whether you live in a dormitory or go to school for classes every day, graduation means the end of social relationships and the routine you have built. This shift in social structure can trigger depression for some people.

A great transition of life

Many people experience depression during a large transition of life such as graduating from school. According to research, the transition can cause depression if:

Life transitions such as graduating from school bring so many changes. Your schedule suddenly differs, and the social environment has changed. You adjust to new jobs or try to find new jobs, and you may have to move to a new place of residence. This can feel very burdensome and cause symptoms of depression for some people.

When experiencing post-graduate depression symptoms, taking any action can feel like it requires more energy than it does. However, there are some things you can try to help you feel better.

Schedule your day: Daily routines can add structure in life and help you prioritize healthy activities such as sleep and exercise.

Maintaining social relations: Regular and loving social contact with friends and family can be a valuable mental health support.

Consumption of nutritious foods: Nutrient-intensive foods have many benefits for physical and mental health.

Raising exercise time: Regular exercise, including exposure to the sun and green space if available, can help the mood and improve health.

Practice sleep hygiene: A consistent sleep time, turning off the screen, and a dark and quiet bedroom is an example of useful sleep hygiene elements.