Young people feel "mentally exhausted"; how far from depression?

"I don't know if I'm sick, but I feel so tired, so tired," "Every day is exhausting, and I don't understand what I'm exhausted about," "My heart is so tired, I just want to escape all of this" ...Journalists often see similar posts on several commonly used social media platforms。After interviewing several young people, the reporter found that this "mental exhaustion" is not just physical fatigue, but also a sense of psychological helplessness. Academic pressure, emotional distress, family issues, and other multiple pressures intertwined, leaving many young people feeling confused and helpless.

Behind the "mental exhaustion" is multiple pressures

Xiong Nan is a freshman preparing for a major transfer exam, and she wants to transfer to the most "competitive" major in the school. If she fails this time, the difficulty of taking the exam to transfer majors in her sophomore year will be even greater. Xiong Nan feels "mentally exhausted," she said: "I study late into the night, but I always feel like there isn't enough time, and I'm very anxious."

Wang Yanjia also feels "mentally exhausted." At the beginning of 2024, Wang Yanjia, who had little dating experience, started a long-distance relationship. Although the distance between them isn't very far, she is constantly troubled by the question, "Are we really compatible?" "I always want to be clingy to him, but sometimes he's quite busy and can't take care of me, which makes me feel bad and internalize, questioning whether we're compatible," said Wang Yanjia.

Li Duocheng's "mental exhaustion" stems from family changes. After his parents decided to live separately, Li Duocheng also had to face the upcoming college entrance exam. The family changes plus the pressure of further studies became a heavy burden on his heart. Li Duocheng said: "During that time, I often lay in bed, not wanting to do anything, feeling like I was completely overwhelmed."

The word "mental exhaustion" is a high-frequency term for many young people to express their psychological state. Many young people feel at a loss when facing interpersonal relationships, self-awareness, academic pressure, and family issues, and even begin to doubt whether they have depression. Carrying these questions, the reporter interviewed the director professor of the clinical psychology department at the affiliated Shengli Hospital of Shandong First Medical University.

Is it depression if you're always "mentally exhausted"?

The professor told the China Youth Daily reporter that the "mental exhaustion" often mentioned by young people may mean they have fallen into a state of depression. She explained that a state of depression is a temporary emotional downturn, usually caused by life pressures or setbacks, which can be improved through appropriate self-regulation. Depression, on the other hand, is a mental illness characterized byPersistent low mood lasting for more than two weeks, which affects daily life and is often accompanied by fatigue, inattention, and other symptoms. It can even affect cognitive abilities and quality of life.

So, what are the similarities and differences between the causes of a state of depression and depression? The professor further analyzed that although the causes of these two are similar, there is a significant difference in degree. Both can be caused by some negative stimuli, but compared to a state of depression, the causes of depression are usually greater life stressors and stimuli that have a long-term psychological impact, as well as biological factors such as family genetics and neurotransmitter abnormalities.

The professor has seen many teenagers in her clinical work. She told the reporter that teenagers' brains are still developing, and their psychological fluctuations are greater, making them more susceptible to life events, triggering depression.

The professor said that the size of the stimulus is not only determined by the external objective environment but also related to internal factors such as personal coping abilities, psychological resilience, and family support. Therefore, improving the ability to cope with negative events and improving one's mindset are important ways to reduce "mental exhaustion."

The professor particularly reminded that feeling "mentally exhausted" does not mean one will have depression, but young people should also actively respond to the possible state of depression to avoid the accumulation of negative emotions. Long-term depression can deplete neurotransmitters such as serotonin (normal serotonin levels help maintain emotional stability, while abnormal levels are related to mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety—reporter's note), and when these neurotransmitter levels are too low, depression may be triggered. Therefore, timely emotional regulation and seeking help are crucial.

"Mind tired" should be healed in time

So, how should young people face "mental exhaustion"? How can they get out of psychological distress and avoid further development of depression?

Professional psychological counseling helped Xiong Nan through her "mental exhaustion" phase. She told the reporter that during high school, she had fallen into a brief state of depression due to academic pressure. Her homeroom teacher noticed her low mood and helped her schedule a session with the school's psychological counseling. Through several sessions of psychological counseling, Xiong Nan gradually found the right methods to solve her confusions.

"It must have been from that time that I slowly understood how to regulate my emotions. Keeping things to myself only makes it worse. I personally feel that talking to people more can make me feel much better."

Many young people like Xiong Nan have overcome "mental exhaustion" through psychological counseling. A psychology teacher at Shandong Water Conservancy Vocational College, Xiang Lin, told the reporter that in her work, she has encountered the most students who have fallen into a state of depression due to interpersonal problems. She mentioned a case of a boy who was depressed due to poor relationships with his parents, lack of friends, and a breakup with his girlfriend. When Xiang Lin first met the boy, he was very silent, showing obvious suspicion and lack of security. Through communication, Xiang Lin found that the boy's depression stemmed from the lack of a social support system. After several sessions of psychological counseling, the boy gradually relaxed, began to actively express himself, and realized that it wasn't that he couldn't let go of the feelings, but that he lacked companionship.

The professor said that most states of depression can be effectively alleviated through self-regulation or psychological counseling, but in some cases where the situation is more severe, timely medical attention is needed. Li Duocheng told the reporter that on his lowest days, he would lie in bed all day. His mother took him to the psychological department of a local general hospital, where the doctor conducted a comprehensive examination and prescribed some medication. Li Duocheng said that taking the medication did indeed improve his condition. After the college entrance exam, he also gradually stopped taking the medication under the guidance of the doctor. Now, he likes to relax through exercise.

"Mental exhaustion" is not being melodramatic

Before choosing to seek psychological counseling, Wang Yanjia had a long internal struggle: "Is it too melodramatic to see a psychological counselor just because things aren't going well in a relationship?" Such a sense of disease stigma is actually quite common.

For teenagers, the professor pointed out that "disease stigma" not only appears in the children who come for treatment but more often in the parents accompanying them. Many parents have cognitive misunderstandings, thinking that their child seeing a psychologist is a melodramatic performance, and even consider it a "bad" thing.

Experts emphasize that in the process of dealing with psychological issues, the most important thing is that parents should give their children understanding and support, listen to their children's thoughts. At the societal level, it is necessary to enhance public awareness of mental illnesses through science popularization and eliminate the stigma of the disease; schools also need to strengthen mental health education, organize interest group activities, and promote students' ability to cope with negative emotions through communication. Teenagers should learn to accept their emotions, recognize that they also contain the energy for change, analyze the sources of their emotions, and then adjust their cognitive methods and ways of dealing with problems.