Depression

Depression And It’s Effects on Teenagers

Depression  Definition:  Depression may be described as feeling sad,

blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.  True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time.

How Could Depression Affect Teenagers?  The real cause behind depression hasn’t been

actually specified because it turns to be variable reasons depends on each person’s life and condition.  Depression actually becomes a ghost that could never be touched but can kill through sensations.

How Could Depression Affect Teenagers?  Depression affects the youth through

different means turning their life to be a piece of black cloth couldn’t be picked from their bodies.  Life turns to be black, hopelessness wins, despair successes, pessimistic becomes a default mood and thinking of committing suicide becomes near!

How Could Depression Affect Teenagers?  Teens who could reach to be depressed hides a lot without being declared and this may

returns to their parents who are separated or don’t care about them. They couldn’t find anyway out to escape from their sorrows and sadness except with directing to be depressed.  Unfortunately, because teens undergo different changes in their life during their teen years, they find it difficult to cope with their problems and cannot prevent or overcome the causes for their depression.

Causes of Depression:  There are many causes of depression

among teenagers. Some causes include : 1. poor academic results, 2. lack of social relationships, 3. unexpected family expectations and parental abuse. 4. feel that things don’t go their way. 5. miscommunication barriers, such as large age difference, with their parents.

Causes of Depression: 6. pressure, loneliness and many pressures

from the changes of puberty to questions about who they are and what they fit in. Thus, confusion and lack of self confidence, lack of social life and stress are major causes of depression.  These causes can make a teenager feel rejected and disappointed. As a result of this great disappointment, a feeling of depression emerges.

Effects of Depression:  Depression that is not treated can lead to many things:  Problems at school- Depression can lower down the

concentration level in a teenager and make them feel exhausted and low in energy that lead to a drop in grades, poor class attendance and frustration and stress in school work in a good, successful student.

 Running away- Teenagers conquered by depression may always run away from home and feel the need for help

 Substance Abuse- Teens believe that the best way to

forget about their sorrows and troubles is through drinking or taking drugs.

Effects of Depression:  Eating disorders- Teens can become anorexic, bulimic and can have unhealthy bodies due to lack of or excess eating.

 Internet addiction- going online is not a person to person contact, which is rather difficult to help teens solve their problems.

 Reckless behaviour and Violence- Teens under

depression behave with irrationality and become violent and harm others. They may even engage into substance abuse, uncontrolled sex and hang out with a crowd that may influence them to do unmoral and harmful things.

 Self-injury and Suicide- when they fed up with problems around them. They can cut and burn themselves and even go further by killing themselves or attempting to kill themselves

Signs and Symptoms: Teenagers under depression should be very cautiously watched for by their parents or by adults and should receive parental help or adult guidance. Symptoms that depressed teens reveal, which an adult should be aware of include:  Tearfulness or frequent crying  Thoughts of suicide or suicidal actions  Difficulty sleeping (insomnia)  Frustration and anger

Signs and Symptoms:         

Aggressiveness and violence Changes in behaviour Poor performance in school Withdrawal from friends and activities Sadness and hopelessness Over reaction to criticism Indecision and lack of concentration Forgetfulness Substance abuse

Treatment of depression:  Depressed teens must seek treatment, or

else it is necessary for an adult or a family member to seek professional advice.  Therapy helps teens to understand why they feel depressed and how to cope with depression, thus minimizing it.  Diagnosis of depression can be done by having the teen do a complete physical exam and take blood samples.

Treatment of depression:  Psychotherapy: It provides teenagers a

chance to explore painful events and feelings that bothering them so they can cope with them.  Cognitive-behavioural therapy: It helps teens change any negative feelings or pessimistic ways of thinking.  Interpersonal therapy: It helps teenagers develop healthy social relationships at home, school or work.

Treatment of depression:  Medication: It helps relieve some

symptoms of depression and is usually prescribed along with the other means of therapy described above. Antidepressant or medication is usually not preferred over the other methods of treatment because they are mainly for teens that are at high risk of suicide.

How a teen can cope with depression:  by trying to make new friends who provide them their

social needs and help them abstain from feeling lonely.  A depressed teen should also participate in sports, jobs and school activities in order to reduce any stress they have and as a result prevent depression.  They should also join organizations that offer programs for young people, which can help them participate in activities that meet their interests.  Finally, a teenager should ask a trusted adult for help to guide them and allow them to cope with depression.

How adults help ?  1)

Be understanding: Living with a depressed

teenager is very difficult, where the parent can feel exhaustion, rejection, despair and many negative emotions toward their son or daughter. The parent should put into consideration that their child is not being difficult on purpose, thus he or she should be understanding and patient with their child.  2)

Encourage Physical Activity: Encouraging a

teenager to be physically active can reduces the causes of depression, such as stress. Exercise is physically beneficial, as it relieves a lot of the symptoms of depression.

How adults help ?  3) Encourage Social Activity: Having social relationships can reduce a depressed

teenager’s feeling of loneliness. A parent should be very opened and allow their son or daughter to share with them their feelings.  Also, an adult or parent should take the depressed teen out with a couple of friends and allow them to participate in any social activities that might be of a particular interest for the teenager.

How adults help ?  4) Stay

involved in treatment: The parent

should keep up with the teenager’s treatment process and should be into contact with their doctor to ensure that the teenager is receiving treatment in a normal sequence.

  5) Learn

about depression: A parent should read

about the illness of depression, so they can become appropriately equipped and assist their depressed teen during the period of depression. Through acquiring sufficient knowledge, they can help meet their teen’s concerns and answer them anything they want to know about their illness in order to cope with it.

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