My story: "As the course went on I got more anxious and depressed"

An increasing number of students are getting depressed. It can feel like you’re the only one when really many students will be going through exactly what you are feeling. Jamie found it very hard being in a new situation meeting new people. Read his story here…

Jamie had just finished his first degree when he was diagnosed with social phobia. When he went back to take a teacher-training course the social phobia really affected him, and he had to leave and spend some time in hospital. A few months on and after some counselling, Jamie is back in control of his life and hopes to finish his teacher-training course next January.

“The social phobia made me very anxious in crowded places and when I was speaking to people. Before I started my course I wasn’t sleeping and I was crying for no reason. I always pushed myself because I didn’t want it to get in the way, but I think I pushed too hard. As the course went on I got more anxious and depressed.

“Before Christmas it all came to a head. I didn’t know what to do and I ended up smashing some things in my room; I went home then to sort myself out. But when I went back to university I realised I was really depressed; I felt like I was in a dark room and I couldn’t see anything else. I packed my stuff up and went home.