Transcript teenage depression - The Teenage issues

TEENAGE DEPRESSION
Presentation made by: Meera Soni
What is it?
For a teenager, it is natural to feel
sad and irritable every now and then.
But if these feelings don’t go away or
become so intense that you can’t
handle them, you may be suffering
from teenage depression.
It is a disorder that occurs during the
teenage years marked by persistent
sadness, discouragement, loss of selfworth, and loss of interest in usual
activities.
Depression is not a sign of weakness
or a negative personality. It is a major
public health problem and a treatable
medical condition.
Causes of Teen Depression:
It is not known
exactly what
causes
depression. A
variety of
factors may be
involved. These
include:
Biological
chemistry
Neurotransmitters are
naturally occurring
brain chemicals that
likely play a role in
depression. When
these chemicals are
out of balance, it may
lead to depression
symptoms.
Hormones
Changes in the body's
balance of hormones may
be involved in causing or
triggering depression.
Inherited traits
Depression is more common
in people whose biological
(blood) relatives also have
the condition. In fact,
children and adolescents
with a depressed parent are
up to four times more likely
to develop the illness
themselves.
Early childhood
trauma
Traumatic events during
childhood, such as physical or
emotional abuse, or loss of a
parent, may cause changes in
the brain that make a person
more susceptible to
depression
Psychological factors
These include low selfesteem, poor body
image, a tendency to
be highly self-critical,
and feeling helpless
when dealing with
negative events.
Learned patterns
of negative
thinking
Teen depression
may be linked to
learning to feel
helpless —
rather than
learning to feel
capable of
finding solutions
for life's
challenges
Symptoms and
Signs of Teenage
Depression:
It usually becomes difficult
to spot whether a teenager
is in depression.
It’s difficult to describe
how depression exactly
feels and people
experience it differently.
However, some common
problems and symptoms
exist for teenagers with
depression.
Emotional Changes:
Persistent unhappiness, crying spells
Irritability and frustration, even over
small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in usual
activities
Conflict with family and friends,
leading in isolation
Sense of guilt or worthlessness; low
self-esteem
You just can’t concentrate – this
could result in poor school
performance
Loss of interest in life that brings
thoughts of death and suicide – this
should always be taken seriously.
Physical Changes:
Change in sleeping pattern –
you tend to sleep too much
or too less
Fatigue
Increased or decreased
eating resulting in weight
change
Frequent complaints of
unexplained body aches and
headaches, which may
include frequent visits to the
school nurse
Behaviour changes:
Agitation or
restlessness
Self-harm – such as
cutting or burning
oneself
Aggressive behavior
Crying more often
Starts using drugs or
alcohol
Is your friend
depressed?
-Your friend does not want to
do the things you guys loved to
do
-Your friend talks about how
bad, ugly, worthless or stupid
they are
-Your friend talks about suicide
and death
-Your friend starts consuming
alcohol and drugs
- Your friend starts performing
very badly in school and stops
attending some of the classes.
Deadly
Depression:
•Depression can lead to suicide.
•In fact, in teenagers, depression is one of the
leading causes of suicide.
•Depression causes a person to see everything
in a negative light. Suicidal thinking in
depressed people is of great concern and
should be taken very seriously.
•Warning signs include talking about suicide
and death, engaging in aggressive or risky
behavior, threatening to hurt people or selfharming.
•Immediate help should be sought for.
Teenagers should talk to a health care
professional such as a doctor or a school
nurse. They should share their concerns with
people whom they trust – parent, close friend,
teacher, etc.
Diagnosis
There is no blood test as of
yet for teenage depression.
Your psychiatrists,
psychologists or psychiatric
nurses will carry out an
extensive medical interview
where you will be asked
about your medical history
and medications. Doctors
largely depend on a patient’s
description of symptoms to
make an accurate diagnosis.
Your moods, behavior and
daily activities are likely to be
discussed.
Share your
feelings:
If you are in depression or feel
depressed, it is best to talk to
an adult you trust, such as
your parent. Letting your
parents know that you are
feeling depressed will
encourage them to get you
the help you need. If your
parents are abusive in any
way, or if they already have
many problems of their own,
it might be best to speak to
another adult like your school
counselor, your relative, or
your teacher. The person
could direct you to the help
you need.
What you can do
to feel better:
Keep your body Healthy: Eat
a nutritious diet and get
involved in physical activities
like cycling or swimming. Even
a short walk can help.
Do not isolate yourself: Do
not spend the whole day in
front of your computer.
Instead, spend time with
lively friends who make you
feel good about yourself.
Avoid alcohol and drugs: This
could make your depression
worse and also increase
suicidal feelings, even if it
feels relieving.
Treating Depression:
Talk Therapy for
Depression
Studies suggest different types of talk
therapy can fight mild to moderate
depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to
change thoughts and behaviors that
contribute to depression.
Interpersonal therapy identifies how
your relationships impact your mood.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps
help people understand how their
behavior and mood are affected by
unresolved issues and unconscious
feelings.
Some patients find a few months of
therapy are all they need, while others
continue long term.
Medications for
Depression
Antidepressants affect the
levels of brain chemicals, such
as serotonin and nor
epinephrine. There are
dozens of options. Give
antidepressants a few weeks
of use to take effect. Good
follow-up with your doctor is
important to evaluate their
effectiveness and make
dosage adjustments. If the
first medication tried doesn't
help, there's a good chance
another will. The combination
of talk therapy and
medication appears
particularly effective.
Exercise for Depression
Research suggests exercise is a
potent weapon against mild to
moderate depression.
Physical activity releases
endorphins that can help boost
mood.
Regular exercise is also linked to
higher self-esteem, better sleep,
less stress, and more energy.
Any type of moderate activity,
from swimming to housework,
can help. Choose something you
enjoy and aim for 20 to 30
minutes four or five times a
week.
Pets for
Depression
A playful puppy or wisemouthed parrot is no
substitute for medication
or talk therapy. But
researchers say pets can
ease the symptoms of mild
to moderate depression in
many people. Pets provide
unconditional love, relieve
loneliness, and give
patients a sense of
purpose. Studies have
found pet owners to have
less trouble sleeping and
better overall health.
The Role of Social
Support
Because loneliness goes
hand-in-hand with
depression, developing a
social support network can
be an important part of
treatment.
This may include joining a
support group, finding an
online support community,
or making a genuine effort
to see friends and family
more often.
Even joining a book club
or taking classes at your
gym can help you connect
with people on a regular
basis.
Thank you!