Teen Forums - Teen Chat, Teen Help, Teen Advice & Support

Opening
This only took a day to write, and it's a work in progress. I just wanted a little bit of feedback, as this is my first article. I will be editing it in the coming days, until I believe it is perfect, which it is far from now. It feels like it's everywhere.

I still want to talk about medication, and maybe other things, and expand on everything.

What is Depression?
Depression is what is know as a mental illness. It is a specific state of mind, for various reasons that will be explained later on. This state often involves low mood, change in appetite, change in sleeping patterns, low self-esteem, impaired thoughts, lack of focus, suicidal thoughts, and many other symptoms. Depression overlaps with many other mental illnesses including anxiety, OCD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, and it is possible to have a combination of these. I wouldn't jump to conclusions, but if you are really confused and eager to find out what you have, it's time to make a doctors appointment.

Depression is something that is a long battle, but you always have the upper-hand. You can google information. There are professionals that can help you. You will eventually make it out, especially if you take care of yourself, and keep educated about the topic.

Reasons
Depression can come from a variety of places. Sometimes it comes when something tragic happens in your life, or you are overwhelmed with stress, and sometimes it comes from a family gene. When your depression is caused by a lack of chemicals in the brain, it is known as clinical depression. Anything else is only known as sadness, though sadness can quickly bring on depression if you aren't careful.

Things to Note
Though depression is classified as a mental illness, you are not crazy. As a teenager, the chemicals in your body are changing rapidly and depression is incredibly common. So common that 1 in 5 teens experience some form of it.

Depression and Changes in Thoughts
As depression causes low self-esteem, and the thoughts you have while depressed may be unrealistic, it would be best not to trust your own thoughts while you are depressed. Just monitor your thoughts, and use the phrase "What would the happy me think right now?" If the "happy" you would think differently, it would be best to that write down. This is an exercise to do while you're head is clear as well. That way, the next time that you are at a low point, you could at the list of nice things you said about yourself, and realized that your thoughts have been distorted by depression.

Here's what I would write down for someone who is depressed, because I believe this is true for everyone: You are beautiful/handsome in your own way. Of the six billion people on earth, at least one of them will love you for exactly who you are. With age comes freedom, and when you are free, free from high school, free from your parents, you will never look back. You will be proud that you made it through hell. You will have a good life. You are a smart, genuine person when you tap into the core of your being. After your test is over the world will seem like a sandbox, and you have the tools to build whatever you desire.

Sources of Stress
Stress is a major component of any teenager's life, and though it's never easy to handle, it's particularly difficult when you have depression. Stress can come from school work, or people in school. Making friends, or problems with relationships. Problems with parents. If you can, limit the amounts of stress that you have, and most importantly, change the way that you handle stress. Practice being calm in stressful situations and try not thinking about stress when you don't have to.

Distractions: Work Breaks
People have many ways at making sure depression doesn't completely take them over. Not all of them are healthy though, and while depression might not be taking over, soon an addiction is and suddenly your battle is much harder. Sometimes, it's good to have a list of things that will take the edge off when you're having a bad day or night. Creativity is a great way to free your mind. Read, or write, or listen to music, or learn an instrument. Watch a movie. It's also good to be active. Play a sport, or run, or lift weights. It isn't necessary though. Sometimes, the simplest things are the best things to do. Go visit a neighbor, or go shopping. Just make sure that you are doing something. Depression creeps into an idle mind. This will never fix your problems, but it will make them more manageable.

Depression vs. The World
Depression is a big taboo topic. In my middle school days, not even your best friend had the guts to tell you they might be depressed. Depression wasn't even talked about in health class until grade 9. You can imagine I gave the teacher a piece of my mind. Actually, I didn't. I still had too much anxiety to bring it up. It wasn't until grade 10 that I wrote an essay asking "why isn't depression discussed earlier in classrooms?" and I didn't look my teacher in the eyes, when I gave her the paper, the title facing downwards.

Here's the truth though. People out there understand depression. If you're even half considering it, bring it up to your doctor. Talk to your parents. It might be the hardest thing you ever do, but I don't think it's quite as hard as being tortured by your mind every day.

Breaking Point
This part is for those of you that feel that they're past the point of return. If you are feeling suicidal, and maybe you self-harm, or you have other problems that wont go away. If you don't think you can last another day, then it might be time to call a suicide hotline, or if you're close with your parents, ask them to take you to the emergency room. Whether or not you feel like it, suicidal feelings are an emergency. Remember that your suicidal thoughts and bad feelings about yourself are part of the depression, and you aren't thinking clearly. You will thank yourself for getting help when you feel better.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel (solution)
And a long tunnel that is. What if things aren't in your control? You're only 13, 14, 15 and you can't make choices for yourself. You're hiding things from your parents, and you can't get away. No matter what you do, you have to come home to the bed and the pillows that are damp from your tears that you cried the night before. The road of a depressed teen is one of the hardest. There is an upside though. Staying healthy, telling people, learning and everything that I've mentioned so far will slowly bring you out of depression. As you learn, you will become stronger than any teen that doesn't have your emotional experience. You will succeed.

The Path to Success (the long road)
One thing that is very important is that if you are overwhelmed, that you change your expectations so that you can meet them. Wondering every day if you're going to success or fail can be frighteningly stressful. If your expectation is that you will do your best then you cannot fail unless you don't try, so you will always have a motive. I like to live by this quote...

"It is only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything" - Tyler Durdan

I believe that you can find the greatest strength in depression. Use your hopelessness to your advantage, and take charge of your situation, at any cost.

Disclaimer
This is all information from personal experiences, and I am not a professional. And, this information is to be treated with a grain of salt.

Great guide, Matt.

it looks perfect

Thanks for sharing Matt.