I'm a 19-year-old nursing student. Lately I have found myself crying every night. I work 38 hours a week as a waitress, until 11 pm or midnight every night, and when I come home need to study until about 2-3 am. Then I need to be up and going to school by 9 am. I am doing poorly in school right now, and I think stress is playing a big part. I am not doing as well as I have in the past, and I'm failing tests. My friends seem to want nothing to do with me, and that only adds to my depression. My mom is very worried about me. I call her from work just crying. I can't take this lifestyle much longer. I feel trapped with school and work. What can I do to help myself?

Sara

The first thing that struck me about your description of your life is how little time or opportunity you have to restore your energy through adequate sleep and leisure time. No wonder you're feeling overwhelmed and depleted -- you may be running on empty. Such a stressful schedule can cause physical and psychological burnout and lead to a state of emotional overwhelm or depression.

One of the first things I'd recommend if a client of mine was in a similar situation is to get more sleep. If you don't get to bed until 3am and are up by 7 or 8am to get to class, you're probably only getting four or five hours of sleep a night. Most people need much more than that to function effectively. Sleep deprivation will increase irritability and mood disturbance and interfere with one's ability to think clearly. (Poor eating habits during stressful periods can also contribute to physical and emotional exhaustion.)

It also seems that you have little source of recreation or pleasure in your life right now. I usually recommend that my clients make time in their lives for some pleasurable and relaxing activity EVERY DAY ... even if it's only 15 minutes luxuriating in a hot bath. We may believe such activities are not "productive," but it's actually those very experiences that restore us. There's a reason we call some things "recreation" -- they re-create us.

Your school may have counselors or therapists available through the student health service, counseling center, or psychology department who could help you examine your situation and support you in making any necessary changes in your lifestyle. Perhaps you could cut back on the number of classes you're taking, or the hours you're working. Since your mom is worried about you, she might be willing to provide some financial and emotional support to help you make needed changes. Good luck.