Stress Management

Teen Depression As A Serious Concern

Tip! You can have control over the stressful events in your life by developing a plan of action.

Teenage depression comes in the most unexpected time and most particularly without the knowledge of the parents. Even a teenager who comes from a happy family cannot escape teenage depression. For those afflicted with teenage depression, researches show that there are 60% of them who entertain the thought of committing suicide and that 9% of them have attempted doing it once. In the whole three decades that have passed, the teen suicide rate has escalated to up to 300%. And such fact is relatively shocking.

What is teenage depression all about and what must the parents do? People normally experience blues in their lives. But when some serious factors interact with these blues, the condition is turned to a disaster. Teenage depression is an illness that is characterized by the feelings of hopelessness, despair and dejection that interfere with all of the person’s ability to function normally. The feelings of withdrawal, helplessness, isolation and being greatly affected by the existing circumstances often are entailed by the teenage depression.

Tip! The great thing is we get to control what we tell ourselves about the stress.
Teens who are suffering from depression likewise manifest loss of appetite or overeating, lethargy, anxiety, lapse into inactivity and withdrawal from family or friends. When parents notice such changes, they should talk to and observe their children. If the worse conditions persist, it is high time to seek for professional assistance. What are the main causes of teenage depression? Either a single or a mixture of the psychological, biological, and social factors prompts teenage depression. Some of the known biological factors that cause teenage depression are hormonal imbalances, endocrinal problems, infections, hypoglycemia, improper diet and anemia. The psychological factors include low self-esteem and the negative attitude towards things and other people. The pressures brought about by life also causes depression among teens such as failure, experiences of loss, frustration, divorce of the parents and breakup with a partner.

Tip! Eat breakfast, a light, nutritious lunch, and when the big dinner or party comes around you'll feel much more in control of your appetite.
How can teen depression be dealt with? Aside from the treatment of depression, there are also some other things that must be taken note of and practiced to assist teenage depression. They are:

 

A)  Consistently pray to the Creator. God cares and listens. Sometimes, science alone can not offer remedies for the illnesses but faith can always move mountains. Encourage the teenage child to spill it up. Show support. It must be someone who is willing to listen and give support.

B) An idle mind is said to be the devil’s workshop. If the mind is not busy, certain depressing thoughts will come in. And that will not prove to be healthy.

C) Learn to combat the workings of your mind. Get over whatever guilt-feelings there are in the mind. It will always lead to peacefulness.

D) Get enough sleep, eat sensibly, exercise and laugh. These courses will surely uplift the depressed person’s mood. Avoid using alcohol, sedatives, marijuana and quit smoking.

The use of them will only worsen the condition of the child. So let them quit these vices if they are engaged into it.