Methods of Combating Adolescent Depression

There are different forms of depression and each one is distinctly different. Some different forms of depression include “premenstrual depression, postpartum depression, seasonal depression, and persistent depression (or dysthymia) that occur alongside other mental health issues such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia”. There are so many different forms of depression so it may be hard to see the depression in the beginning and second, the type of depression would be even harder to figure out.

Depression within teenagers I very common and greater because “with the many physical, emotional, psychological and social changes that accompany this stage of life”. These teenagers are going through one of the hardest part of their life and the part that really carves out the way that individuals turn out. It’s very intimidating changing and trying to be comfortable with yourself and also trying to figure out who you are and what your purpose in life is. All this leads to depression.

Teenagers get really confused when they are “bombarded by conflicting messages from parents, friends, and society.” Especially at this time of age with the use of technology growing they become more exposed to all the bad and good in the world in “television, at school, in magazines, and on the Internet”. Everywhere you turn you are drawing with all the reality in this world. There are ways to stop teenagers from feeling depressed by making them feel like they belong and are accepted with things like having “Healthy relationships with peers”. You could also talk to a trusted adult or someone you feel comfortable. Then lastly you can join programs and activities because it “Staying busy helps teens focus on positive activities rather than negative feelings or behaviors.”. If teens are able to concentrate on something that makes them happy they will forget all the bad in their life. Teenagers might be depressed biologically because they have “too much or too little of certain brain chemicals.”. Also having family members with previous depression increases the likeliness for others in the future to get it. Depression in teens might exist because of “difficult life events (such as death or divorce), side-effects from some medications and negative thought patterns”. Depression in teens keeps rising with “one in five teens suffers from clinical depression” and “ 4-8% of adolescents currently experience depression…25% will experience depression by the time they reach the end of adolescence.”

Things that can cause or increase depression is “genes, brain chemistry, and hormones. Some are the environment, including daylight and seasons, or social and family situations we face….some is personality, like how we react to life events or the support systems we create for ourselves.”. Sometimes hard to realize if someone is depressed because we only associate it with being whiny and moody we don’t look at other symptoms and “adolescents do not always understand or express their feelings very well.”

Some things that depression can lead to is suicidal/negative thoughts with “5,000 young people, ages 15 to 24, kill themselves.”. Its known that depression is the “third leading cause of death in adolescents and the second leading cause of death among college-age youth.”. It can also be biological as well with “insomnia, the risk of heart attack, weight fluctuating, fatigue, weakened immune system, trouble with memory and decisions.”

The way you are able to treat it or get rid of it can be with help from a family member or loved one. Also, something else that can help depression is a therapy which “can help teens understand why they are depressed and learn how to cope with stressful situations… group or family counseling”. Something else that can help is psychotherapy which “provides teens an opportunity to explore events and feelings that are painful or troubling…also teaches them coping skills”. Another type of theory that can help is cognitive-behavioral therapy because it “helps teens change negative patterns of thinking and behaving”. Then there is also interpersonal therapy” which focuses on how to develop healthier relationships at home and at school”. Some other things that can help depression are medication because it, “relieves some symptoms of depression and is often prescribed along with therapy”. What would help even more would be encouragement from family friends and loved ones to get treatment. If it gets really dangerous there is also depression hotlines and the ability to call 911.

The only true way to diagnose whether you have depression or not is by ”conducting interviews and psychological tests with the teen and his or her family members, teachers, and peers.”. You can also see for yourself whether you have symptoms that indicate depression like, “Poor performance in school, Sadness, Anger, Overreaction, low self-esteem or guilt, Restlessness and agitation, Suicidal thoughts or actions”.

My opinion about depression is that I feel like I have it because of everything happening in my life and me going through a completely new life with a new state new school and a new family to live with. Everything in my life is confusing and I find myself constantly overthinking things and looking at everything in a negative li. When I am alone my mind is racing and I just completely overload myself with my own thoughts. However, when I occupy my time and I make sure I’m doing something or am with someone then I don’t feel like everything is going to explode.

Depression is important to society because if we are able to understand it then we are able to get rid of it for good. If not get rid of then we will at least understand how to maintain it and allow it to decrease rather then increase. We need to understand the symptoms, the longer effects, and what to do when you have depression, etc.