"There is
always hope. Depression blinds us to that fact. If we can somehow
hold onto our hope, just maybe we can find a way to get through."
--Andrew Fineberg--
What is Depression?
Depression is a widespread mood disorder common among teenagers and people
between the ages of 25 to 44.
Being a teenager is such a difficult time because your body is changing
so quickly and your head and heart are
constantly struggling to catch-up. You are experiencing many new sensations
and emotions for the first time.
Life can be so confusing! Being a teenager is sort of like riding a roller
coaster. It’s exciting and scary at the
same time.
So how can you tell if you or somebody you love is depressed?
A depressed person often loses interest in things that they used to find
important. They are unable to experience
pleasure in things they used to enjoy.
Isolating themselves, both physically (maybe by not hanging out with friends
anymore) and by emotionally
withdrawing themselves from other people (maybe by not talking to parents
or friends anymore), is a sign
that a person may be depressed.
Insomnia, loss of appetite, overeating (also known as bingeing), loss of
sexual desire, low energy, fatigue,
headaches, bodily aches and pains, and upset stomachs are common complaints
among depressed people.
If you are sad all the time, have negative feelings toward your future
or just about life in general, have suicidal
thoughts, or have low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness and guilt,
you may be suffering from
depression.
Intellectual abilities are often affected by depression. A depressed person
may not be able to concentrate or make
decisions, may suffer from memory lapses, and may find themselves disoriented.
There are many different reasons people may experience depression. Some
types of depression are genetically
linked and are often treated using drug therapies. Other types of depression
are caused by the environment.
Environmental factors like divorce, alcoholism, abuse (physical, emotional,
and/or sexual), job-loss, not doing
in well in school, and fighting with parents and family can lead to depression.
Traumatic events like rape, incest,
death of a loved one, and physical injuries are also environmental causes
of depression. People suffering from
depression as a result of environmental factors could benefit from counseling
or a combination of drugs and
counseling.
Though the term "depression" can describe a normal human emotion, it also
can refer to a psychiatric disorder.
Depressive illness in children and adolescents includes a cluster of symptoms
which have been present for at least
two weeks. In addition to feelings of sadness and/or irritability, a depressive
illness includes several of the
following:
1. Change of appetite with either significant weight loss (when not
dieting) or weight gain
2. Change in sleeping patterns (such as trouble falling asleep, waking
up in the middle of the night, early
morning awakening, or sleeping too much)
3. Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed
4. Loss of energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down for no reason, "burned
out"
5. Feelings of guilt and self blame for things that are not one's
fault
6. Inability to concentrate and indecisiveness
7. Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
8. Recurring thought of death and suicide, wishing to die, or attempting
suicide
Children and adolescents with depression may also have symptoms of irritability,
grumpiness, and boredom.
They may have vague, non-specific physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches,
etc.). There is an increased
incidence of depressive illness in the children of parents with significant
depression.
(Copyright © 1997 by the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.)
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