Depression is much worse than sadness. It’s a condition in which people are affected not only with just their mood, but their energy, motivation, and concentration are also affected as well. It also interferes with their perception of the good things in life. As said on helpguide.com, “Depression can destroy the very essence of a teenager’s personality, causing an overwhelming sense of sadness, despair, or anger.”
Not everyone with depression has the same symptoms though. The most common ones are negative thinking, low energy and motivation, not being able to concentrate, upset stomach or loss of appetite, and social withdrawal. Friends may notice they do not see them out as much or do not socialize as much when with groups of people.
Although there are many symptoms, some people may not realize they are depressed and will leave the depression untreated. In some cases, people may be mistaken as having a bad attitude. Going without treatment could also lead to other problems such as cutting and eating disorders.
Depression is caused by many reasons. It can be inherited or caused by living in a difficult family or social environment. Chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters affect our moods. Many things can affect the production of these chemicals like daylight and seasons, a challenging social environment, life events, and certain medical conditions. Sometimes there’s no explanation for people becoming depressed.
Getting a medical checkup is the best thing for a person who believes he/she could have depression. In some cases, the person may not have depression at all but medical conditions like mono or hypothyroidism which can provide symptoms such as depressed moods, lack of energy, and tiredness.
There are many different options to treat depression. The most common is talking to a counselor which helps people to sort out their emotions and help to give more positive outlooks on life. Counselors can also help people build the confidence they need to help boost their self-esteem. Doctors may prescribe a daily medication that will help balance the chemicals in the brain.
While medicines and speaking to counselors may be helpful, the best thing for the person to do is help himself/herself. Exercising daily, eating right and getting the full eight hours of sleep are things that will help depression without professional help. Some people have even found creative outlets such as painting, dancing, listening to/creating music, or journaling.
The best thing for teens with depression to do is to seek help, which can be hard for teenagers. Talking to a trusted adult or friend is a major step. Getting help instead of just waiting for it to go away is worth it in the end.
If you know someone with depression, the most powerful thing you can do for them is give them support. Although you may not believe you are doing much, just showing that you care and helping the person while he/she struggles with this condition may give the person a boost to want to help recover as well.