Depression

National Depression Screening Day (NDSD)

You may be asking yourself...what does this mean? Today was a screenning day for depression. So as a counseling intern I stood in the Arboridium of the School of Education for 4 hours, in 3 inch heels mind you, handing out blue lolly pops so that people could "Lick the blues away for National Depression Screening Day!"

At first it was fun, I thought of witty catch lines like "hey you looked depressed...come get screened" or "Does life suck...heres a sucker" hahahaha, no really, I did not say that at all I merely handed out pamphlets and suckers in order to hook fellow students into awareness of depression and to take a screening.

First I would say, "would you like a sucker?"

Then students would respond:

"I am on a diet"
"I have to go to class"
"No thank you"
"I already have one"
"I already know I am depressed"

I was amazed at how adverse people were to free suckers and a 2 minute screening...Then I thought to myself "I hate it when people try to hand me stuff or try to sell me something". I am awkard and worry that they are trying to trick me. Yes, trick me into buying 100 knives that cut pop cans. Or I would enter a harmless contest for a trip to Hawaii only to find weeks later my mail box full of credit card offers! Yet, I feel guilty when I don't give them my attention, they are just doing their job right? Am I selfish?

This of course was a learning expiernce, in that, I should be confident enough to listen to the nice man selling newspaper subscriptions and stronger to say no if I don't feel like it. So from here on out I will try to give some attention to the paper pushers and the candy givers!