When a teen gets upset or irritable occasionally, it is not unusual at all. But, if the sadness and irritability remain longer than normal, there are chances that the teen may have been affected by teen depression. Help and support are available and hence, teens need not worry and make things worse for themselves.
Symptoms of Depression
If you have the problem of teen depression, you may feel that no one is prepared to understand you. You may be feeling sad and since everyone including your parents consider this as a common teen problem, you get angry with them. You might have been enjoying many things earlier but the same things or activities may not be fun for you anymore.
You may feel guilty and useless. You may have difficulties in sleeping and eating or you may over-sleep or over-eat. You may also experience headaches or body pains without any reasons. You may cry unnecessarily. Very importantly, you may not be able to concentrate on anything and therefore, your grades at school may slip. If you have been extremely affected by teen depression, you may think of committing suicide also.
When Depression in Teens Turns Serious
Depression in teens has to be treated immediately but if you think that you are not able to control your thoughts and feelings and if you have arrived at the conclusion that there is no solution at all, you may try to harm yourself. You may try to harm others also. Your parents cannot ignore your problem any more because you are having very strong emotions and it may be tough for them to handle you. They should therefore seek professional help for treating you appropriately.
Suicidal Thoughts and How to Cope with Them
You must remember that there is no problem in this world that cannot be solved. The solution may not be ‘visible’ to you but if you discuss your teen depression problem with others, they may come out with some solution or the other.
Another point is that you should understand that no situation will remain the same for ever. If you attempt suicide or if you try to harm others, you will lose your reputation. Experts advise that making decisions when you are emotional is wrong because such decisions may certainly bring harm to everyone concerned. So, talking to someone whom you believe will help you is the right solution for coping up with such a situation.
Experts also advise that when you get suicidal thoughts, you should put off the decision for about 24 hours. During this period, you should discuss your problem with someone with whom you can confide. Your emotions may cool down and you can get workable solutions for your problem also. You should avoid being alone also. You can go to a movie or be with friends or relatives.
Most of the young people who have teen depression may not discuss their problem with others including their parents. It is therefore the duty of the parents to keep a watch on their teens. Since they may not know much about such problems, they can consult with experts if they find abnormal behaviors in their teens. They should also try to acquire as much knowledge about parenting, teen depression, etc. and this may do a world of good in helping their teens come out of this problem.
The affected teens should also understand that it is very important that they should share their feelings with others. If they have hesitations to talk to their parents, they can discuss this with someone they can trust. They should realize that if they share their sadness or feelings, their sadness may vanish or their burden will be halved.
Tips To Young Ones Who Have Teen Depression
They should learn to live one-day-at-a-time. They cannot solve life’s problems instantly and hence, they should not think about what will happen in their future. They should focus only on the present and this will help them rid of their worries.
Having smaller and achievable goals will help these teens succeed in their endeavors. Even small successes will bring cheer to them. You should therefore avoid making big plans. Instead, you can have very small goals and try to accomplish them. When your confidence levels improve, you can think of having bigger goals. So, willpower alone may not be able to help you combat teen depression. A practical approach consisting of smaller goals alone will help you.
You should understand that the depression problem you are facing is not your making. There are several factors that may have contributed to it. But, you can have control over how you react or feel about these factors. So, you should learn to manage your feelings and stress so that you can combat teen depression problem and come out unscathed.
Medications and therapy will certainly help but you should avoid buying over-the-counter medicines on your own. You should instead seek the help of professionals and take the right type of treatment that suits you. You should also take care of your physical health by having healthy food and by doing regular exercises. Exercises help keep your brain chemicals at balanced levels and so, you cannot ignore their importance. You should try to sleep well by planting positive thoughts in your mind. You should never take to drinking or drugs because they may make things worse for you. Above all, you should not hesitate to seek the help of parents, friends or close relatives for help on teen depression.