Worried about my child

[rose338]

I have a child at university and is currently showing signs of low mood and sleeping alot. I have taken her to the doctors and they have sent her for blood screening which showed no problems. However, now I just don't know what to do. She is reluctant to go back again and the Doctor said he didn't want to prescribe any antidepressants just yet. She is very lonely at Univeristy and is also reluctant to consider starting at a different uni nearer home as she says "I'm not giving up". She has become socially isolated as everyone in her flat has paired up and got rooms for next year and so we are now currently picking her up and dropping her off on a Sunday. I have bought her a SAD lamp talk to her and encourage her for around 3 hour periods on Skype every night. Both me and my husband are at our witts end help.

Very worried MUM

If I remember correctly, this is the time of year [assuming from your post that she is in her first year], that most are looking at houseshares for Year 2.
What is she considering about that?
Has she any ideas on that front?

You sound like a lovely mum, she's lucky to have you. It sounds like it might be worth going back to the GP? Uni should have a counselling service, could she access that? How about clubs at uni, sports or social etc? Or maybe get some hours work in the uni bar, so she can meet some new people. Also think about what there is in the town/ city where she is based, there might be some social groups which suit her.
I hope things improve soon.

I was also very lonely and depressed at university. In retrospect I found the whole thing really overwhelming and just wasn't able to cope with it. I really think you are right and that she needs to start somewhere new with a clean slate. I know several people who did this after just not seeming to get off the ground in their first year, and had a much better time at a new place. They just clicked better with the people and place the second time around. Sometimes that's just how the dynamics work. Is she getting any counselling? She really ought to be on AD's as well. They would help her so much and get her out of the hole she's in.

Is she quite a sensitive sort of soul? That sort of person generally finds university quite overwhelming. You could buy The Highly Sensitive Person for her. It's so good for helping to understand your place in the world.