Overcoming low mood
It can be hard to be motivated when you feel low and it can involve extra effort. You may also need to persist as feeling more positive can take time. Don’t be hard on yourself if you find it difficult to make changes at first.
Here are some activities that you can try to help improve your mood.
- Exercise. This increases natural chemicals in the body called endorphins that can lift our mood. Walking, jogging or just a few push-ups in your room every day are all beneficial ways of increasing physical activity
- Diet. Eating a healthy balanced diet improves physical and mental health
- Connect. Talking to your friends and family can really make you feel better
- Pamper yourself. We all need to look after our ourselves and ensure our needs are met
- Give. Do something positive for a friend or stranger. Smile. Looking outside of yourself can create positive connections to others.
Managing Study and Low Mood
We all have a tendency to put things off especially if we are feeling low. Leaving things until the last minute can build up unnecessary stress and tension and lead to mistakes and missed deadlines. Here are some tips that you may find useful.
- Write down what you have to do, when it has to be done and prioritize your tasks
- Create a study plan. Break things up into small manageable tasks that can be dealt with one at a time
- Start!! Somewhere, anywhere; it doesn’t matter where
- Make a start on an easy task then switch to a more difficult task once you are in the flow of studying
- Stop telling yourself you must do really well; doing it in the first place is what really counts
- Boost your motivation, give yourself rewards
- Energise yourself; run, jump, sing
- Take a break! If you’re feeling tired or stressed, give yourself some time to relax, then when refreshed you can carry on effectively
What is Mental Health?
Mental health can be described as a state of emotional and social well-being in which an individual can cope with the normal stresses of life and achieve his or her potential. It includes being able to manage day to day activities, function as a member of society and contribute to community life.
Mental Illness
1 in 4 people experience mental distress and it can happen to anyone. The most common problems are anxiety and depression. Students encounter the same types of difficulties as the general population although research suggests they are more prone to anxiety and depression.
Despression
is a state of unhappiness and low mood. You may find you have lost interest in life and are struggling to cope with day to day activities. It can be triggered by stressors such as financial problems, pressures of study, relationship difficulties or feeling isolated, which many students experience. Sometimes it is not clear if there is a cause behind these feelings and thoughts.
Warning signs for depression
Have you experienced any of the following?
- Decreased energy
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Irregular sleep or insomnia
- Restlessness
- Changes in mood
- Difficulty making decisions
- Appetite and weight loss
- Tearfulness
- Persistent sad or empty mood
- Anxiety
- Thoughts of death or suicide
If these signs persist then you may need to get help from your GP or a counsellor. The university has a counselling service that can help you make some changes in your life or think about new ways to manage your situation. You can fint the contact details below.
Further Help
https://dtk.elte.hu/
Online Counselling: https://dtk.elte.hu/online-counselling/
E-mail consultation: https://dtk.elte.hu/e-mail-consultation/
Counselling Service
ELTE Lágymányosi campus, building D; 1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C South building; room 0.727, room 0.203 and room 00.721
studentconsult@inf.elte.hu
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