February 'funk' amplifies stress, depression in students
Renee Valentine
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: News
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By Renee Valentine
Staff Reporter
According to the Jed Foundation, each year about 1,100 college students die by suicide.
Learning to recognize the early warning signs of depression can help to prevent such tragedies.
Nancy Badger, head counselor at the UTC Counseling and Career Placement Center, said, "the 'February Funk' visits campus each year.
According to Badger, "February Funk" is a "temporary malady" that sucks the energy out of students, causes students to be unmotivated in their school work, irritable with their friends and roommates, bored with activities they once enjoyed, and just generally depressed.
"Students become stressed around this time of year because they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel," she added in reference to the school work that often accumulates at this point in the semester, and the seemingly unending cold, dark weather.
Students are also prone to depression in February in particular because of what Badger refers to as the "Valentine's Day Curse."
"People who either don't have a significant other find Valentine's Day to be a very lonely time," Badger said, as do "people who have unrealistic expectations of their significant other on Valentine's Day."
Badger said that this so-called curse "can lead to feelings of rejection and loneliness and can damage relationships."
To combat the debilitating funk this month may bring, Badger suggests students "take some time out for themselves" to de-stress and pay attention to their coping skills.
Badger also warns against things that can trigger depression, such as "internalizing" stress or sacrificing sleep, good nutrition and quality time with friends.
According to Badger, if a student feels he or she has slipped into the "February Funk," he or she should talk to a friend rather than keeping it all inside.
Additionally, the student can use available resources such as the UTC Counseling and Career Placement Center.
Staff Reporter
According to the Jed Foundation, each year about 1,100 college students die by suicide.
Learning to recognize the early warning signs of depression can help to prevent such tragedies.
Nancy Badger, head counselor at the UTC Counseling and Career Placement Center, said, "the 'February Funk' visits campus each year.
According to Badger, "February Funk" is a "temporary malady" that sucks the energy out of students, causes students to be unmotivated in their school work, irritable with their friends and roommates, bored with activities they once enjoyed, and just generally depressed.
"Students become stressed around this time of year because they can't see the light at the end of the tunnel," she added in reference to the school work that often accumulates at this point in the semester, and the seemingly unending cold, dark weather.
Students are also prone to depression in February in particular because of what Badger refers to as the "Valentine's Day Curse."
"People who either don't have a significant other find Valentine's Day to be a very lonely time," Badger said, as do "people who have unrealistic expectations of their significant other on Valentine's Day."
Badger said that this so-called curse "can lead to feelings of rejection and loneliness and can damage relationships."
To combat the debilitating funk this month may bring, Badger suggests students "take some time out for themselves" to de-stress and pay attention to their coping skills.
Badger also warns against things that can trigger depression, such as "internalizing" stress or sacrificing sleep, good nutrition and quality time with friends.
According to Badger, if a student feels he or she has slipped into the "February Funk," he or she should talk to a friend rather than keeping it all inside.
Additionally, the student can use available resources such as the UTC Counseling and Career Placement Center.
