What is it Like to Attend George Mason University

What is it Like to Attend George Mason University Anita earned her bachelors degree in English from George Mason University. She specializes in English tutoring, elementary math tutoring, and a number of other subjects. Below, she shares her experience at George Mason University: Describe the campus setting and transportation options. Anita: I went to George Mason University (GMU), which was just switching over from a heavily commuter school to a campus living school at the time I graduated. The area is pretty suburban compared to most campuses. It is surrounded by gorgeous trees and huge lawns to hang out and read a book. Although it is in the heart of Fairfax, the closest cities are D.C. and Arlington. The campus feels so safe, since there are students hanging out at all hours of the night and it is all so well lit. There are buses to get around and the metro if needed to get into the city. Many people still drive into campus, but once you're on campus, everything is within walking distance. How available are the professors, academic advisers, and teaching assistants? Anita: Everyone is readily available and willing to stay after class in order to help students. For those of us who had team practice right after class (like me), we could just email our professors to get an appointment for office hours! How would you describe the dorm liferooms, dining options, location, socialization opportunities with other students? Anita: I only lived in a dorm my first year, but I loved it. George Masons campus dorms are state of the art and newly built, therefore there is nothing old to worry about! The dining options are numerous and you can get Starbucks or a buffet only minutes away from each other. Since completing my undergrad, they have immensely updated their dining options. There are so many ways for students to socialize, although most belong to a sorority, fraternity, or group of some kind. Being that GMU ranked as one of the most diverse schools, there are a plethora of clubs and greek life options to join. Which majors/programs are best represented and supported? Anita: I was an English major, but engineering and STEM subjects are very represented at Mason. The great thing about studying there is that no matter what you want to do, there are so many opportunities in and around the area to hone your skills. Each school within Mason does a great job of providing students with the support they need for careers after college. How easy or difficult was it for you to meet people and make friends as a freshman? Does Greek life play a significant role in the campus social life? Anita: Yes, I think Greek Life does play a major role in socialization. The great thing is that there are plenty of options to choose from in terms of interest. If Greek Life isn't for you, there are plenty of clubs that will help you socialize. There are also many D1-D3 sports to choose from, if that is something of interest. How helpful is the Career Centerand other student support services? Anita: Although I did not use the Career Center much, I have friends who would use it and found it to be very helpful. Many got information about internships from the Career Center. How are the various study areas such aslibraries, the student union, and dorm lounges? Are they over-crowded, easily available, spacious? Anita: The biggest study area is in the main building, The Johnson Center. The JC houses eateries, the bookstore, a theatre, a bistro, the auditorium, and three floors of books and study space. This is where I did all my studying, because I enjoy noise when studying. For those who want a quieterspace, the library is always an option and there is plenty of room there. The dorms are great places to study alone or have study groups, because they have large multipurpose rooms for studying. Describe the surrounding town. Anita: The campus itself is situated in the heart of Fairfax, VA and you can easily walk or bike to the town of Fairfax, which houses some great restaurants and shops. You can drive or take the metro (or bus) to the surrounding cities of Arlington or D.C., which is about a 20-30 minute drive from the campus. Although I have seen that most students who live on campus stay on or near the campus, I have seen most parties and outings take place in D.C. How big or small is the student body? Were you generally pleased or displeased with the typical class sizes? Anita: I was generally pleased with the student body because it was big and diverse. I loved that in a class we could be with foreign exchange students or students from a small town in the Midwest. Class sizes for lectures were actually fairly big (120+ students), but as you specialize in your field, the class sizes are much smaller (15+ students). I had one class with only eight students. Describe one memorable experience with a professor and/or class. Perhaps one you loved the most or one youregretthe most. Anita:I would say that I loved my African-American Literature class. The class had less than eight students and had a sense of accountability. The class also had a different feel because the professor had been a teacher prior to getting his PhD, which made the class more engaging. I have sat in many unengaging classes where the professor just reads slides. There was quite a bit of dialogue and the professor was more of a facilitator. Check out Anitas tutoring profile. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

How Much Do French Lessons Cost

How Much Do French Lessons Cost Megan L. If you want to learn how to speak French, you probably already know that the best way to learn is by practicing speaking French. Books, apps, and audio programs are all great resources, but they are primarily teaching you passive comprehension skills. Being able to understand French  and being able to say something in French are two distinct skills. Taking private French lessons is one of the best ways to practice speaking in French, and as a result, is is one of the best ways to learn to speak the language. Unfortunately, many students do not pursue French tutoring because they wrongfully assume that these lessons are too expensive for their budgets. However, there are many tutoring options available for students at all price points.  Fluent and native French speakers have even begun to  offer online tutoring using video chat programs like Skype, which tend to be less expensive than more traditional lessons. If youre wondering, how much do French lessons cost?, read on to  find out what price range you can expect and factors that  affect the cost. How Much Do French Lessons Cost? Most private French lessons cost  $20 to $50 per hour, although you may find some teachers that charge significantly more or less than that. Most students choose to take one to three French lessons per week.  Here are just a few factors that may influence a teachers rate for French lessons: Is the Teacher a Native or Fluent Speaker? Generally speaking, teachers that are native French speakers charge more per hour than a fluent, non-native  French instructor.  Because they grew up speaking French, a native speaker will have a proper French accent, as well as in-depth knowledge of the language and culture. On the other hand, a fluent speaker of French was once a beginner as well, and understands the struggles you face when trying to learn French. This lets them  provide advice based on what worked best for them when they were learning French. Does the Teacher Have a Formal Education in Teaching French? Some people that give French lessons do so simply because they love the language. Others have received training or degrees in the French language and how to teach it. Someone with a formal education in French will usually charge more than someone who does not. However, training does not inherently make someone a good teacher. There are many French tutors without training that are just as good as those that have formal training. Is the Lesson Format Formal or Informal? How much time a teacher must spend preparing for your lesson will also play a factor in the price they charge per hour. If you are looking for formal French lessons like you might receive in a traditional classroom, you can expect the tutor to charge  more. This extra cost covers the additional time they  spend  gathering materials and developing lesson plans in preparation for your tutoring session. Other teachers offer informal French lessons. Instead of preparing a lesson in advance, they will simply start having a conversation with you. As you talk, they will offer corrections or address any questions you have. Both of these teaching methods are effective in improving your French speaking skills. You have to decide which  format best fits your learning style and goals. Does the Teacher Offer Discounts? When contacting a tutor to ask  How much do French lessons cost from you?, you might want to ask whether or not they offer any discounts. Some teachers will offer discounts when you book multiple sessions or refer a friend. When choosing your French tutor,  look for one that fits your learning style and objectives. While price is one factor, their personality and style are also very important. Want to learn more? Search for a  French tutor to get started! Photos by redjar,  francois schnell,  NTU Graduation Week 2014,  Ryan Tyler Smith,  Ged Carroll Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher

Math Tutoring-Providing the Best Access for Facing Challenges in Life

Math Tutoring-Providing the Best Access for Facing Challenges in Life 0SHARESShare Math is a subject that demands creative thinking, combined with logical analysis of the problems it puts forth before the students. Having given the rules, norms, formulas, concepts and equations, Math expects the students to solve the queries it brings forth and thereby tests the intelligence and reasoning capacities of students. If so, it is the subject that opens up opportunities for the students to match real life situations through its ideas and concurrent questions to be answered by students. Math tutoring online picks up suitable solutions for the challenges wrought by Math-which can be used by students in real life situations. Abilities provided by online tutors in Math to face real life challenges! • An online Math tutor makes a student efficient enough to manage his credit card and other bank dealings, buying and selling aspects of any material or good like car or old furniture with his proper teaching of Math concepts. • He encourages a student to think positively and creatively to find out answers for a query. This promotes a student to attend to the challenges he faces in his life with focus and find out solutions in an independent way Online tutoring in Math is a blessing for needy students as they learn to handle both Math and life from the hands of tutors in Math. Tutor Pace with its wonderful set of Math tutors prepares student minds to think individually to face life challenges. Get  Math Tutor Online  Now! [starbox id=admin]

Makeup for Dancers

Makeup for Dancers The Stage Makeup for Dancers Guide ChaptersDancers’ Makeup: The Products You Should HaveBallet Makeup: Start with the EyesFoundation for Ballet DancersMakeup for Ballet Dancers’ MouthsThe Finishing Touches for Makeup for Ballet Dancers“Life is the dancer and you are the dance.” - Eckhart TolleThe cosmetics industry is worth around 70 billion dollars according to Statista. In a small way, dancers have contributed to this worth.  Firstly, you should know that stage makeup is less subtle than the makeup you might wear around town.Dancers are usually far from their audience and if you don’t highlight your complexion, eyes, or mouth, you’ll look sickly under the bright lights focusing on you.  Before you put any makeup on, make sure that you remove any other makeup and clean your skin.Ready? Here’s our guide to stage makeup for dancers? SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsDancers’ Makeup: The Products You Should HaveBefore you get started, make sure that you have a few basic products to hand:Foundation: a tone closest to your skin colour or one shade darker (you often appear paler on stage).Matte foundation powder: to matte your complexion.Blush: pink for paler skin tones and brown blush for darker tones.Several shades of eye shadow: 3 shades should be enough. White, beige, and brown tend to the most common.Mascara: Waterproof might be a good call (you’ll sweat).Black eyeliner: Also waterproof.Matte lipstick: opt for a red or dark pink. Shiny colours don’t work well on stage and tend to look too pale.Eyebrow pencil: the shade closest to your natural colour.Cotton buds and makeup remover in the event you make a mistake.A brush for your eyes and a foundation brush for the powder. Since you'll be seen from afar, your makeup needs to be heavier than what you'd usually wear. (Source: skeeze)You can also add glitter, fake lashes, highlighter, corrector and concealer, and a lip pencil. Now you should have everything you need to get started. Of course, you’re free to add and change things.So how can you choose your leotard?Find out more about leotards.Ballet Makeup: Start with the EyesYou’ll often get told to start with your complexion. Not this time! Start by doing your eyes as your eyeshadow can leave pigment below your eyes. You’d then have to clean this off and redo your foundation so it’s better to start with your eyes. As for eye makeup, you want it to be bold and solid. You don't want it to run during your performance, either. (Source: Bru-nO)Start by applying a white eye shadow across your whole eyelid from the lashes to your brow. This will catch the light nicely. This layer will also act as the foundation for the subsequent layers.  If you have a foundation layer for your eyelids, don’t hesitate to use it before adding this layer.Next, add a darker layer of shadow onto the moving part of your eyelid starting from the outside and working inwards. The idea is to have a gradient that’s darker on the outside than on the inside. Finally, add the darkest layer to the outside of your eyelids to add depth.With the remaining pigment on your brush, add it to the base of your eyelashes.  Apply your eyeliner along your lashes and extend the line beyond them, drawing an accentuated “comma” at the end. Your eyeliner needs to be thicker than what you’d usually wear as your audience needs to see it.D on’t let the eyeliner collect at the edge of your eyes as this will make your gaze look smaller. You’ll want to use a white eye pencil to make your gaze look bigger. We’re not looking for a natural look here as it won’t show up on stage.  Add a generous helping of mascara.Don’t hesitate to ask your teacher if they have a particular look in mind for your show. You might want intense smoky eyes or something lighter.Find out more about clothing for dancing. SeamDance Teacher 4.96 (24) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors JamieDance Teacher 5.00 (6) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ErickaDance Teacher 5.00 (1) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamuelDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £100/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors FlavioDance Teacher 5.00 (7) £25/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HakimDance Teacher 5.00 (5) £50/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors HannaDance Teacher 5.00 (4) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ClareDance Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsFoundation for Ballet DancersNow let’s apply some foundation.  If you tend to have dry skin, you might want to add some moisturiser or a BB cream. Move your hair out of the way and wear a deep neckline so that you can apply the foundation to your neck, too. With a lot of stage lights shining on you, you'll want to opt for a matte foundation. (Source: fotostrobi)You can also add a corrector and concealer to any blemishes or spots. Add a liquid foundation starting at the centre of your face and working your way outwards. Don’t forget to also apply this to your neck so that you don’t have a discoloured oval for a face. Some prefer to add foundation by hand but if you want to use a brush, make sure you use a foundation brush with a liquid foundation in mind.You might also want to use a foundation for dark circles. If you don’t have one, you can apply your foundation from under your eyes outwards.  You then need to matte your foundation to stop it shining under the stage lights. Opt for a foundation that’s a little darker than the previous one so that you can contour a bit. Avoid foundation with sun protection as they tend to appear white when filmed or photographed.Find out how much dance outfits cost.Makeup for Ballet Dancers’ Mo uthsFor the mouth, you might want to follow the contours with a clear pencil. This will stop your lipstick from running into the corners of your mouth. Since your mouth is an important facial feature, you'll need a bold colour so that the audience can see it. (Source: annca)Using the tip of your lipstick isn’t very practical and requires some skill. It’s much easier to use a special brush to apply your lipstick.  Blot the lipstick against a tissue to remove the excess before you add a second layer.You can also add a bit of gloss to the centre of your lips but this isn’t necessary and it does tend to stick.  You might want to keep your gloss on hand backstage so you can retouch. Similarly, you’ll be thirsty and your lipstick will fade when you drink.The Finishing Touches for Makeup for Ballet DancersNow that you’ve got a perfect complexion and your eyes and lips done, you can add the finishing touches.BlushThis can help add relief to your face and accentuate parts of the face. To apply it, smile and apply it diagonally across your cheeks.EyebrowsYou can highlight your expression by using an eyebrow pencil. Blondes can defin e their eyebrows. However, brunettes can also use it. After all, even the most obvious features may be hard to see on stage.Eyebrow pencils are useful if you have thin or fair eyebrows.  Apply the pencil from the beginning of your eyebrow to the end working from the inside.Tip:  Line up your eyebrow pencil with the bridge of your nose and the edge of your eye. Your eyebrow should come up to the pencil. If your eyebrow doesn’t reach the pencil, then you should apply the makeup to this point.Place your eyebrow pencil on the bridge of your nose and line it up with the outside edge of your eye, your eyebrow shouldn’t go below the pencil at any point.Learn more about ballet footwear.Setting or FixerA setting or fixer spray works a lot like hairspray and you can put it on once you’re done. It works similarly as a hairspray in that it holds everything in place.Don’t forget to put your costume on before your makeup as you don’t want to have to pull anything on over your head. You can always wear something over the top that you can unbutton and take off so that your costume doesn’t get stained.Don’t hesitate to look for tutorials on YouTube to help you with applying your makeup or for inspiration.If you need more help with ballet, think about getting in touch with the talented and experienced tutors on Superprof. You can get either face-to-face tutorials, online tutorials, and group tutorials and since each comes with its pros and cons, make sure you carefully consider which one will work best for you, your preferred learning style, and your budget.Face-to-face tutorials tend to be more costly than the other types of tutorials but they're also the most cost-effective since you're getting a bespoke service with a personal tutor.Online tutorials are usually cheaper but aren't as effective when it comes to hands-on subjects like dancing. However, if you're on a budget or are struggling to find tutors in your local area, online tutors could save the day.Group tutorials are cheaper per person per hour since you're all sharing the cost of the tutor's time. If you and a few friends would like to learn how to dance, group tutorials could be the way to go. Furthermore, you won't always have to dance with the same person.

Learning Language, Culture, and Food Vocabulary

Learning Language, Culture, and Food Vocabulary Pauls Thanksgiving turkey.This Thursday in the United States we will be celebrating Thanksgiving day. When we learn language we also learn about the culture of the language. So this week you will learn a little bit about Thanksgiving and colonial America.Canada and the US both celebrate Thanksgiving however they have different meanings, histories, and even different days. Currently, in the United States Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, and in Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday of October .History of Thanksgiving and Spanish origins The first Thanksgiving could have been given to us by Spain. According to historians the first Spanish settlers in the US celebrated a Thanksgiving dinner in Florida, September 8, 1565. In general the origin of Thanksgiving is European and probably based off of the traditional harvest dinners in Europe. The first colonies in the United States were extremely religious and celebrated the day with a church service and a feast. It was not until December 26, 1941, however, that President Franklin D. Roosevelt, after pushing two years earlier to move the date earlier to give the country an economic boost, signed a bill into law with Congress, making Thanksgiving a national holiday and settling it to the fourth (but not final) Thursday in November.Thanksgiving TraditionSo, what is the tradition? Well the tradition is generally to gather with friends and family and eat too much, and be thankful for what we have in our lives. The main dish of Thanksgiving is turkey, some families will also roast a ham. The side dishes are just as important as the main dish. The sides (side dishes) include mashed potatoes and gravy. Yams, usually cooked with brown sugar. Stuffing, sometimes cooked inside the turkey cavity. Cranberry sauce, sweet corn, and other fall vegetables. The main meal is followed by desert and coffee. Pumpkin pie, apple pie, and pecan pie are traditional, sometimes with ice-cream and sometimes wit hout.   Usually the mother of the family cooks the turkey, but, in our family it is Paul!Vocabulary We say: Happy Thanksgiving.When at the dinner table say: Please pass the yams. If you can not reach the dish you want.What you will find at the dinner table: Forks, knives, spoons, plates, water glasses, and wine glasses.The food vocabulary: butter, sweet rolls, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, salt and pepper, salad, corn, vegetable, collard greens, pumpkin pie, apple pie, pecan pie, and coffee.hmmmhmmm! Enjoy!Sign up for: Online English Classes | Aulas de Inglês | Cursos de Inglés

GCSE Chemistry Workshop at UCL

GCSE Chemistry Workshop at UCL On Wednesday 29th June Tutorfair  Foundation and UCL hosted their third Chemistry Workshop.  The day was aimed at GCSE students thinking of taking A-Level chemistry and went off-syllabus to showcase how chemistry is actually  used in the real world. One of the students, Spencer,  has written up her experience of the day..... On Wednesday, I was lucky enough to go to a Chemistry Day organised by the Tutorfair Foundation and UCL which was really amazing. I’ve always enjoyed chemistry, so it was a great opportunity for me to find out more about what it’s like to study chemistry at university, and to help me decide whether chemistry was the right A level choice for me. First we had 3 talks from lecturers at the university. They were so interesting, and it was really nice to learn about chemistry outside of the classroom. The topics, which were “Ozone in the Earth’s Atmosphere”, “Magic Bullet Chemotherapies” and “Chemistry Under Pressure”, showed us how chemistry is being used right now in the real world. It was especially cool to hear that some of the research is carried out right in the university, which sounded very exciting. Next up we had talk about what it’s like to study chemistry at university, which was full of useful information. It helped me to understand why taking chemistry is such a good option and also showed me that a chemistry degree can be used for so many careers that you wouldn't expect. After lunch, we had a quick briefing on the practical we were about to do, then we were allowed into the labs. The facilities were incredible, and it was really cool to see everyone in lab coats and all the different kinds of chemicals on the shelves. We were making something called a ‘ferrofluid’, and even though ours didn't turn out quite like the pictures online, they were still pretty awesome and also fun to make. The last activity of the day was a talk from Andrea Sella about mercury. He was so passionate about it, which was really inspiring, and his enthusiasm kept everyone completely engaged for the whole time. The demonstration was also really cool. Overall, it was a great day which I would definitely recommend to anyone thinking about taking chemistry for A level or beyond. In my case, I came in unsure of whether to take chemistry A level or not, and this day showed me how fascinating chemistry really is, and how much more there is to it than what we look at in class. I learned new things, had a really fun day, and I’m now very excited to start chemistry in September!

Theres Actually Science Behind Losing Your Train Of Thought

Theres Actually Science Behind Losing Your Train Of Thought Photo Via: There’s Actually Science Behind Losing Your Train of Thought Ever lose your train of thought? It’s frustrating and annoying, but it’s happened to everyone at least once. But more than that, researchers have now linked that obnoxious tendency to an actual, scientific explanation. On a neurological level, researchers have surveyed the brain at the moment a human being is startled (and therefore loses their train of thought), and found a surprising link between the lost-thought and a very well known symptom found in those with Parkinson’s disease. Losing your train of thought can happen as the result of a variety of stimuli, such as being interrupted or being startled by a loud noise or other, unexpected event. According to Adam Aron, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego (also the researcher that led this study), “An unexpected event appears to clear out what you were thinking.” The experiment ultimately shows the brain sending out an order to physically stop, thus interrupting the train of thought. Aron said the following: “We know what the electrical signals look like when somebody has to stop a movement. The radically new idea is that just as the brain’s stopping mechanism is involved in stopping what we’re doing with out bodies it might also be responsible for interrupting and flushing out our thoughts. We are providing a neural mechanism by which that happens. The same stopping system that gives you that kind of jolt when you are getting out of the elevator, and someone else is in your way and you have to stop, that same stopping system is stopping your train of thought.” This stopping system in the brain is known as the “subthalamic nucleus.” The subthalamic nucleus also happens to be the main focus of this study. The experiment was conducted with volunteers that put on an electrode hat and completed memory tasks on computers. The first test determined whether a surprise could make the volunteers lose concentration on their task. To do so, the computer would show them a string of consonants, which they were then told to compare to another string and determine if they were identical. This requires mundane concentration. To throw the volunteers off, a tone was used before the test part of the experiment. However, sometimes the researchers would mix up this tone by replacing it with the sounds of birds singing. And this distractor worked. The 21 volunteers that participated in the study either slowed in their test taking or made errors in their comparisons. Then, 22 new volunteers did the same test with the electrode hat on while seven others (with Parkinson’s disease) did a similar test, though the electrodes were implanted surgically. These electrodes read the brain activity and gave a very precise reading in those with Parkinson’s while the electrodes in the caps gave more of a rough idea of brain activity. The study found that volunteers were more likely to make mistakes the more the subthalamic nucleus was engaged by the “startling” sounds. According to Jan Wessel, a cognitive neurologist at the University of Iowa that worked on the study, “We’ve shown that unexpected, or surprising, events recruit the same brain system we use to actively stop our actions, which, in turn, appears to influence the degree to which such surprising events affect out ongoing trains of thought.” This is ironically something Parkinson’s patients are all too familiar with. The subthalamic nucleus is at work in Parkinson’s as well, and is responsible for the “freezing” qualities of the disease. For instance, when patients can’t focus easily or can’t initiate motion, this is their brain’s subthalamic nucleous, quite simply, directing the body to stop. The electrodes mentioned above are referred to as “deep brain stimulation,” which is meant to treat these symptoms. Because this same action is happening in “healthy” brains, researchers are led to believe that this system is a universal one, perhaps further explaining the complexities of such neurological diseases. Of course, scientists don’t stop there either. This knowledge could help to treat depression or PTSD in the future. According to Wessel, “It might also be potentially interesting to see if this system could be engaged deliberately and actively used to interrupt intrusive thoughts or unwanted memories.” Of course, these ideas are far in the future, and for the most part, just wishful thinking. According to Aron, “We don’t want to stretch it too far to make big claims about treating anything. This is highly speculative, but it could be fruitful to explore if the subthalamic nucleus is more readily triggered in ADHD.” This research may just be scratching the surface of its potential, but if this study is any indication, the future might just hold some of the most valuable neurological information yet.

Watch for These 7 Signs of Depression

Watch for These 7 Signs of Depression pexels.com 1. Changes in sleep If you’re sleeping more or you’re sleeping less often, this is a sign of depression. Monitor these changes and, if they persist, tell someone about them. According to Dr. Holly A. Swartz, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, “sleep makes people function well, so the real problem is that for a depressed person, sleep isn’t restorative, and they aren’t refreshed or rejuvenated.” According to Dr. Joseph Calabrese, professor of psychiatry, individuals might also experience “psychomotor agitation,” which is essentially restlessness. 2. Your mind seems muddled If you’re having a hard time sticking to one thing, if your mind feels jumbled and you constantly have too many thoughts going through your mind and tend to be a little more forgetful than usual, this is another sign to watch out for. According to Dr. John Zajecka, professor of psychiatry at Rush University Medical Center, “One of the things people really need to be mindful of is how well they are functioning cognitively. Sometimes people can’t sit down for 30 minutes and watch TV or read or do anything that requires some focus.” Also be on the lookout for slow thinking, forgetfulness, decision-making problems and other signs of inattentiveness. 3. You’re worrying/thinking too much In case you didn’t know, there is actually a word for over-thinking: “rumination.” Rumination is bad for depression, as it can make it last longer or even increase an individual’s chance of becoming depressed. According to Zajecka, “With rumination, people basically get caught in a loop of replaying negative situations or looking at neutral situations in a negative way or over-analyzing things.” He continued in saying “A little self-reflection is good, but with rumination, someone can become very self-absorbed and they talk about the same things over and over again, which becomes tough on the people around them.” So this is essentially turning individuals’ friends and family against them, which will, in turn, make them more depressed, making it very dangerous. 4. Weight changes If you’re losing or gaining a lot of weight, this is a sign as well. Depression can cause individuals to either eat more or to eat less, which results in drastic weight changes. According to Calabrese, “Most people enjoy a good meal, and those who are depressed lose energy and interest, even in eating.” 5. You’re not engaged or expressive If you or someone you know is changing socially, meaning they were previously engaged and now aren’t any longer, they’re likely depressed. This is one of the big ones, as it’s very common with depressed individuals. And if they aren’t necessarily pulling back completely, pay attention to their attitude when they’re with others if they appear uninterested or have a flat look all the time, this is a sign as well and should be monitored. 6. You hurt a lot Depression, though a mental condition, can influence your body and create pain in the form of back aches, headaches, digestive issues, etc. According to Zajecka, “The pain is very real and some people may only see their doctors for vague physical pains and never get a diagnosis of depression when that’s the real problem.” The science behind this is interesting pain and depression actually share similar brain chemicals which travel nerve pathways so if you’re depressed, this can change your brain’s sensitivity to pain at those nerve endings. 7. It can be treated Just because you or a friend is displaying symptoms of depression does not mean it’s the end of the world; depression is very treatable. The problem is that it first needs to be diagnosed. According to Zajecka, “Depression is very common and there is good help. A person doesn’t need to suffer. They really aren’t alone.” So keep these symptoms in mind and be more aware of your surroundings. It’s time to change the statistics surrounding depression, and that change starts with you.