TEEN DEPRESSION

Many teens who are depressed turn to drugs or alcohol to self medicate and relieve the symptoms.  We as adults need to be aware of the symptoms of depression and know when to get help.  Bert Nash, the Lawrence Community Mental Health Center is a great resource. 


How to Tell if Your Teen is Depressed

Depression can affect people of any age, race, ethnic or economic group. There are two kinds of depressive illness: the sad kind, called major depression, and manic-depression or bipolar disorder, when feeling down and depressed alternates with being hyped-up and sometimes reckless. You need to have your teen evaluated by a professional if they have several of the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks or if any of these symptoms cause such a big change that your teen can't keep up their usual routine:          Feels sad or cries a lot and it doesn't go away. Feels guilty for no reason; feels like they're no good; lost their confidence. Life seems meaningless or like nothing good is ever going to happen again. They have a negative attitude a lot of the time, or it seems like they have no feelings. Don't feel like doing a lot of the things they used to like music, sports, being with friends, going out and they want to be left alone most of the time. It's hard to make up their mind. They forget lots of things, and it's hard to concentrate. Get irritated often. Little things make them lose their temper and/or over-react. Sleep pattern changes; start sleeping a lot more or have trouble falling asleep at night. Wake up really early most mornings and can't get back to sleep. Eating pattern changes; lost appetite or eat a lot more. Feel restless and tired most of the time. Think about death, or feel like they're dying, or have thoughts about committing suicide. Manic Symptoms:           Feel high as a kite...like they're "on top of the world." Have unreal ideas about the great things they can do...things that they really can't do. Thoughts go racing through their head and jump from one subject to another and talk a lot. They are a non-stop party, constantly running around. Do too many wild or risky things: with driving, with spending money, with sex, etc. So "up" that they don't need much sleep. Rebellious or irritable and can't get along Approximately 4 percent of adolescents get seriously depressed each year. Clinical depression is a serious illness that can affect anybody, including teenagers. It can affect thoughts, feelings, behavior, and overall health. Teens with depression can be helped with treatment.