Hi there notsammy,

I had the same concern as you just a few weeks ago, so I can totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s right that if you’re not outgoing and stop going to college, there is a chance of isolating yourself, and this is not healthy at all. However, if you think that you will do better with an online program rather than going to college, and that is totally okay, you can always give it a try but by doing some things next to it.

If you do get on an online program, you will need to get out of your house for another reason than college. And if you’re not outgoing, than you need to find things to do. You can maybe try to make a goal of going for a tour in the park every day / every two day. Try to keep in contact with your college friends / friends, and propose things to do together every other day, like maybe once a week or in the weekends, and don’t refuse their propositions. Find yourself a hobby that you can do with people - team sports, art courses, music courses, creative writing courses, hiking, cycling, anything that is doable in groups. Keep a journal with you, write down all of these things that you did in a week, and try to do it the next week too. It’s just so easy to stay in the house, in your bed etc, but it can have serious negative consequences. If you don’t want to isolate yourself further, you need to have a face-to-face conversation with someone every day, would it be a family member, your neighbour, a friend, anyone.

It is really a hard choice and you need to think about it seriously before doing it. Depression can force you to isolate yourself, so if you think you can fight it back by doing for example one of the things said above, give it a try. You can always get back in college if you think online course is not for you or is having a bad effect on yourself and / or your depression.

I hope this can help a bit, love. If not, or if you need anything else, please do send us another ask.

Il est des jours heureux cachés dans l’avenir.