Dealing with depression during exams

Happens to everyone. Schools should do more to forewarn students that they will get very little work done during the exam period, which would reduce the no-study guilt. Something like an hour or two of activities after exams would be cool.

Just relax, watch some TV, and do a half hour of revision before bed!

That sucks OP, especially at this time in your life. I'd recommend doing some meditation, it always helps me during bouts of depression/anxiety:

1: Find somewhere that you won't be disturbed for 5-10 mins.

2: Either sit straight up on a chair, feet planted, arms on your knees, or sit on the floor, cross-legged. You could even lay down on the ground if that suits.

3: Close your eyes and breath naturally, in and out (obvz) and just try to be "in the moment", just thinking about breathing in and out.

4: When you start thinking about anything else (and you will, that's okay), imagine the thoughts are like clouds drifting by in the sky. The sky is your mind, the clouds are the thoughts. They'll come, grand, but they'll float on by as well. Whatever metaphor works for you. I like to think of a river. Some people think of them as cars going by while you sit at the side of the road. Point is: These thoughts (whatever they are: School, stress, exams, relationships, what to eat for dinner) will come. The important thing is to recognise that your mind has wandered slightly and to bring your focus back to the breathing.

5: It will happen over and over again. That's fine. It's natural. Every time it does, just bring yourself back to the breathing, gently.

6: If you want after a few minutes (no need to time exactly) expand your field of thought out into the body as a whole, and imagine that each breath is filling your insides, refreshing and nourishing.

7: When you're ready and calm and feel like you want to, open your eyes.


Look, I'm not going to say that this will help 100% but in our busy world, it's rare that we take 5-10 mins to ourselves (watching TV/tablet alone doesn't count). It's amazing the difference making a conscious effort to take a step outside of the rush to just breath can do. It helps me, and it might help you too.

Best of luck in the exams and in the future OP!