Lately Lindsay hasn’t felt like herself. Her friends have noticed it, too. Kia was surprised when Lindsay turned down her invitation to go to the mall last Saturday (Lindsay could always be counted on to shop!). There was really no reason not to go, but Lindsay just didn’t feel like it. Instead, she spent most of Saturday sleeping.
Staying in more than usual isn’t the only change in Lindsay. She’s always been a really good student. But over the past couple of months her grades have fallen and she has trouble concentrating. She forgot to turn in a paper that was due and is having a hard time getting motivated to study for her finals.
Lindsay feels tired all the time but has difficulty falling asleep. She’s gained weight too. When her mother asks her what’s wrong, Lindsay just feels like crying. But she doesn’t know why. Nothing particularly bad has happened. Yet Lindsay feels sad all the time and can’t shake it.
Lindsay may not realize it yet, but she is depressed.
Depression is very common and affects as many as 1 in 8 people in their teen years. Depression affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age; however, it does seem to affect more girls than guys.
What Should I Do If I Think Someone Is Depressed?
Sometimes friends or family members recognize that someone is depressed. They may respond with love, kindness, or support, hoping that the sadness will soon pass. They may offer to listen if the person wants to talk. If the depressed feeling doesn’t pass with a little time, friends or loved ones may encourage the person to get help from a doctor, therapist, or counselor.
But not everyone recognizes depression when it happens to someone they know.
Some people don’t really understand about depression. For example, they may react to a depressed person’s low energy with criticism, yelling at the person for acting lazy or not trying harder. Some people mistakenly believe that depression is just an attitude or a mood that a person can shake off. It’s not that easy.
Sometimes even people who are depressed don’t take their condition seriously enough. Some people feel that they are weak in some way because they are depressed. This is wrong and it can even be harmful if it causes people to hide their depression and avoid getting help.
Occasionally, when depression causes physical symptoms (things like headaches or other stress-related problems), a person may see a doctor. Once in a while, even a well-meaning doctor may not realize a person is depressed, and just treat the physical symptoms.
Why Do People Get Depressed?
There is no single cause for depression. Many factors play a role including genetics, environment, life events, medical conditions, and the way people react to things that happen in their lives.[1]
Anyone who is experiencing depression needs to seek help to find solutions for dealing with this painful issue. This could be through a school counselor or a professional therapist or a support group. Whatever the setting, the outcome should be finding healthy outlets for overwhelming feelings. It is difficult to deal with depression by yourself and you don’t have to do it alone. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with depression and you don’t know where to turn for help, you can always start by calling Safe2Tell™ at 1-877-542-7233 (SAFE).
For additional information on Depression, link to The Children’s Hospital website.
[1] The Children’s Hospital website, October 2007.
