SelfhelpMagazine

by LuAnn Pierce, MSW, CMSW

It sounds like your friend may be correct. You mentioned five symptoms that are often related to depression. Without knowing more about how long you have been experiencing these problems and what, if anything, has happened in your life that may have triggered these responses, it is difficult to say exactly what you might need.

Let me give you some background information, and hopefully, this will help you move forward. There are two kinds of depression. One is a normal response to something sad or traumatic in your life that may go away after a period of time without any treatment.

The other kind of depression comes from a chemical imbalance and is considered a medical problem. Even with normal periods of depression following a trauma, if the symptoms linger for a long period of time and/or interfere with your normal activities (like missing school or your grades are falling) you may greatly benefit from counseling and/or medication.

Teen Sleep Troubles: Physical or Mental?
The first step is to see your doctor for a physical so he or she can rule out any contributing medical conditions. Just make a list of everything that you or your friends and family think might be going on, and bring the list with you. Sometimes, if we are nervous, we can forget important things, so a written list is one way to make sure you won't leave out important details. There's no rule that says you must do this alone, either. Bring a friend or family member if you think they could be helpful.

Tell your doctor about your symptoms, how long they have been going on and what if anything happened that may have triggered them. If your doctor can't find any cause for your symptoms, ask him or her to suggest what you should do next.

Your doctor may recommend a trial of medication, and hopefully also suggest that you find a counselor or minister to talk with weekly. Not all doctors are knowledgeable about teenage depression, so if you do not get the kind of response you want, ask more questions. Feel free to ask for a referral to a specialist, maybe a psychologist or a psychiatrist. If you want to learn coping mechanisms ask for a referral to a psychologist or counselor.

Check out my response to another teen who needed to find someone locally to help with her problems but did not want her parents involved.

Just don't give up! Many medical doctors think depression is just part of being a teenager . . . this is not true, although the teen years are difficult at best.

If your doctor says you are healthy, but does not address the depression I would suggest that you find a local therapist, a school social worker or guidance counselor. Any of those people should be trained to help you figure out what to do next.

If you are depressed, you do not have to live with it . . . it is not a normal part of growing up and can lead to other problems, even suicide, if left untreated.

If you begin to have thoughts of hurting or killing yourself seek help immediately. Whatever you do . . . don't do nothing. Talk to your friends, parents or a trusted adult when you feel moody and make an appointment with a professional as soon as possible.

Also, read more about depression in our Depression Department.

Best of luck!

About the Author:

LuAnn Pierce, MSW, CMSW is the author of Growing up Sane (in uncertain times), Seminar Leader Growing Well Adjusted Kids, Editor-in-Chief Person to Person: Strengthening Youth & Families and Telephone Counselor Affinity Counseling Center.