[bronzeowl]

Normally, I concentrate better when I'm depressed (than when I'm in an elevated mood), but right now... I'm in a pretty deep, dark depressive episode. The worst part is.. I have my final for Psychology on Monday. I wanted to start studying on Tuesday. So far, I've only invested about 2 hours into studying. On the bright side, they're chapters I already know (Psychology disorders, Freud/personality, development), but there are still concepts I could study to insure a higher grade. But I can't concentrate. I try and the words just mesh together in my head, which increases my current anxiety. Does anyone have any tips for studying through the depression? Relaxing tips, maybe, that I can do before hand?

[Vossie42]

It's not easy to study while severely depressed and anxious. I find that it helps to list what needs to be done and to prioritize those tasks, like you've been doing. I also make sure to allow a realistic amount of time to complete the tasks. I recently had 5 tests in two weeks. I was out of my mind with anxiety and stress! I identified exactly what I could skim over and what needed a closer look. Then I wrote up a schedule for the tasks so that I would complete them by test day. Just identifying what needed to be done and setting a schedule for them eased my anxiety. Then getting to work on completing the tasks eased my anxiety and stress further. Having a plan and working on it really help me.

I did an okay job of sticking to the schedule. I ended up cramming but I did cover what I needed to cover and did alright on my tests. Some things took longer than originally anticipated, so I adjusted my schedule. I didn't let myself beat myself up for not sticking to the schedule. The schedule was just a guideline.

What also helped a whole lot was to go to a coffee shop to study. They know me well at Panera Bread! Then I didn't have any distractions. Since I was in public, I couldn't take a nap. I did have to leave my cell phone in the car. The game apps are rather distracting...

When anxiety has a really strong hold on me, I find that doing something that completely commands all of my attention for awhile helps break the hold. Going to a movie, swimming in the ocean, working out really hard, playing music so loud that I can't think, screaming while driving. Something that distracts me utterly and completely.

If all else fails, I take half a Xanax. I'm such a lightweight. I also take Prozac, which I've come to realize really ratchets up the anxiety and xanax doesn't do anything for it. So, I cut back on Prozac in order to lower my anxiety enough to study. (My doctor is taking me off it now since the side effects are greater than the benefits.)

I also like to drink Celestial Seasonings' Tension Tamer tea. It takes the edge off anxiety for me. It's like a brain tonic. It's something to drink, but it won't have the adverse effects of drinking gallons of coffee. I tend to eat and drink when I get stressed. Drinking herbal tea is a way to self-soothe.

I hope that helps. I feel your pain. Been there and will be there again in a few more weeks. Remember - breathe!

[coffee_over_tea]

Your life = my life right now. I've never really had to study while I was going through an episode until this semester. And buddy I feel your pain. It is so hard to concentrate on those darn concepts when your mind has a million and one other things it would rather think about.
My suggestions/ what worked for me. Studying around other people preferably friends who are aware of what your are going through. That way when they see you semi-freaking out/ not doing something they can get you back on track. Or make flashcards and have a friend quiz you. I found that making it fun helped me to. For my french midterm I found an open white board and started writing stories about my friends in french it was more engaging than just staring at my textbook and actually was enjoyable (bonus!)
Another route I like is the reward system when I find something that I actually enjoy while depressed I reward myself with it after 15 minutes of successful studying (imgur is my reward just so ya know).
I also agree with what vossie42 said making a (realistic) schedule really helps! After you map out exactly what you want to study it makes it seem less overwhelming and impossible!
and my last suggestion as corny as it may be is yoga. It really helped me focus and center/ calm myself before a study sesh
Power through my friend and good luck!

[bronzeowl]

Thank you for all the tips. *takes deep breath*

I think a schedule might suit me best. I kind of like my routine, so I like following a set schedule. As long as I don't push myself too much to stick to the schedule, I should be fine. I, also, like the idea of studying in public. I do a lot of my studying at night (I tend to think better at night), but I could try to swing some in during the day tomorrow. Maybe have my sister take me to the closest coffee shop.

As for tea. Would any herbal tea do the trick? I bought some this month that I haven't tried yet. I just got sick of coffee, and so figured I'd buy tea instead. I can't even remember what kind it is without looking, though.

Thanks so much. Your post made me feel a lot better about studying. I can do this... I know I can. i've aced all the exams in this class so far, I'm not going to let myself slip.

are you studying at home?

because if so, before you start you could listen to some relaxation music- just to put your mind at ease.. i know i used to do that, and still do it- if i have a situation that needs me to be calm

btw, i have a theory why people study better when depressed (this is just me though) and my ideas

it's because when you're in an "elevated" mood, as you call it, you want to make the most of it.. you don't want to be stuck studying, you want to do things- and make the most of the good mood

and when you're depressed, it's just.... i don't know. you realise that you don't really want too, but it's the only thing to keep you from the thoughts

[Perna]

I would combine studying with something else I enjoyed more? If you like to write see if you can write a decent poem or story using 10 terms

See if you can create a mental "game" where terms are the bad guys that can only be destroyed with the weapon of knowledge (sorry, corny, but I'm on a budget here :-) or line up facts behind each as if they have armies and are going to do battle. Make a TV commercial, movie, something to get you to read, understand, and use the material in a way that isn't straight, dry, studying.

Do something utterly silly and put information on 3 x 5 cards/slips of paper and go out and hand them to strangers, throw them one-by-one into separate trashcans as you walk/learn them; do two sets and go out and "hide"/leave each card a certain place and go home and test yourself and make yourself go to the place you left the other card and retrieve it if you forget that particular information, etc.

Get a grease pencil or children's bath crayons and play in the shower, writing stuff and cleaning it off as you learn it

Buy a roll of butcher block paper (or cooking parchment paper?) and work on the floor, writing, drawing, illustrating points (buy many/varied magazines and see what points you can find pictures of).

[Vossie42]

I don't think it matters what you drink so long as you find it soothing and enjoyable. Chamomile is known for its calming effects. I've read that kava kava is good for anxiety. You have to be careful that you don't drink it all the time as it can cause liver damage in some people. Valerian is good for helping you sleep. During times of super high anxiety it may have a calming effect without making you drowsy. I've never tried it so I have no idea really. The Panera Bread restaurant near me offers a sublime ginger mint tea made by The Republic of Tea that I love. It doesn't have to be herbal tea. It can be regular black tea so long as caffeine does not make your anxiety worse. You could try the relaxation drinks that are starting to come on the market - the opposite of energy drinks.

[Atlas22]

"As for tea. Would any herbal tea do the trick? I bought some this month that I haven't tried yet. I just got sick of coffee, and so figured I'd buy tea instead. I can't even remember what kind it is without looking, though."

On the concentration front; coffee and tea dehydrate you which deprives your brain of the fluids it needs to employ efficient cognitive function. I'm not saying don't drink any tea. A good herbal tea helps calm the nerves but also keep a water bottle next to you so you can take sips every 5 minutes to keep your focus on what you are studying. This steady consumption of water also helps out with pacing your study sessions using bathroom breaks to allow you to get up and clear your head for a couple of minutes every 45 minutes or so.

Also when studying make sure that you are facing a wall and that no open spaces in which people are walking occupy your peripherals as this will constantly draw your attention away from your work.

[kqaleel]

many a times i had to study for exams with a depressed mental state. i am a medical student and had severe depression during my final mbbs exam due to exam anxiety. when everyone told there is nothing to fear in it, i couldnt control myself. my mind went amok and was totally disoriented. i somehow managed to attend all the exams with such a disoriented psyche and is now left to think that i am not gonna pass. the saddest part is i have never failed in an exam , even in which i had feared !! now my mind is telling , i am gonna fail for sure and i am looser etc. what to do??

[bronzeowl]

This reply is a bit delayed, but please know I definitely read all your replies!

Yes, I usually study at home. So music is definitely an option. That definitely makes sense in my case.

Perna, I really liked your idea and did use it. I'm a writer and I have a lot of characters I turn to when writing. I used one of my favorites (who also happens to be a psych nerd himself ) for my studying. And everything I wrote stuck with me a lot longer than things I'd read from the book. It was a pretty nifty trick. On the exam, when questions he'd 'answered' cropped up, I just thought back to what I'd wrote. Handing cards to strangers might be a bit much for me because of my social anxiety aha, but I can definitely throw them away as I walk past trash cans and have learned the information.

A small amount of caffeine usually relaxes my anxiety. Too much... increases it. I just have to remember my limits. I've heard good things about chaomile, so I think I'll give it a shot first. I've seen some of the relaxation drinks. Perhaps I will give one a try one day.

I always keep water near me. So, that won't be a problem at all. I used to be addicted to soda and part of how I broke my addiction was keeping water near me when I drank it. I found that the more hydrated I stayed, the less dependent I became on soda. I find that it works with coffee and tea, too. Thanks for that tip. I usually study alone, but it will probably help when my sister(s) is/are around.

Kqaleel, I'm in the same boat. I have only failed an exam in French... which I regret, because I want to pass all my classes. Regardless, I've not failed a single one in Psychology but I've stressed about every single one. I don't have much advice for you, being that I'm in the same boat. All I can say is take some of the advice here and do your est. You're obviously a smart student, so I'm sure you'll get through it. Best of luck.

[bronzeowl]

Well, the exam is long done... anyone have any tips for writing an essay when you just don't have motivation to write?

[Tiger_Lily]

Commit to 15 min at a time and make sure you do an outline so you don't have as much blank page syndrome. Then you can turn points into sentences. It may not be an amazing essay, but I've come to the conclusion that all I need to do it pass. To adapt a saying for myself, "what to you call the person who graduates last in nursing school: a nurse!" I'll do well in my labs and practicums. That's what works for me and you'll have to figure out what works for you.

[Vossie42]

I second Tiger Lily's suggestion of starting with an outline. After I do an outline, I write the body of the essay, then the conclusion, and then the introduction. I know that sounds a little backwards but I find the introduction to be the hardest part to write. If I insist on writing a perfect introduction before moving on, I would never finish the paper. I do know what points I want to make. It's just that the exact wording of the intro is hard to write.

The body of the essay is easier to write. I know what points I want to make, so I figure out how to make those points. The conclusion is generally just a short paragraph. The intro is harder because it has to capture the reader's interest and it sets the tone of the essay. When I first start writing the essay, I don't know what the tone will be. So I guess that's why intros are hard for me to write right off the bat.

Should inspiration hit, I write whatever section of the essay I'm inspired to write at the time. I don't have to write things in a particular order.

As Tiger Lily says, the essay doesn't have to be a work of art. It just has to be good enough to receiving a passing grade.

[bronzeowl]

I have done an outline. We had to do that over the weekend (It was worth a LOT of points, so there was no skipping it). Even with the outline, I'm still staring at a blank document that only has the header.

The fifteen minutes thing might work, at least. And no, that doesn't sound backwards at all! As a writer, I totally get it. The beginning is always the hardest part. The beginning has to hook the reader in, after all.

Thanks for the advice. I think... I'll try doing it fifteen minutes at a time for now.