Hey guys,
Here is some information about depression, i'v been trained to work with young people so know quite a bit about it. I made sure my mother checked over it though. (Erm she is a Doctor by the way!)
Most young people, feel low or 'blue' occasionally. Feeling sad is a normal reaction to experiences that are stressful or
upsetting which is common because we get stressed with exams, leaving school, starting jobs and these sorts of things at our young age.
When these feelings go on and on, or dominate and interfere with your whole life, it can become an illness. This illness is called `depression'. Depression probably affects one in every 200 children under 12 years old and two to three in every 100 teenagers.
The signs of depression are mainly:
*Being moody and irritable - easily upset, `ratty' or tearful
*Becoming withdrawn - avoiding friends, family and regular activities
*Feeling guilty or bad, being self-critical and self-blaming - hating yourself
*Feeling unhappy, miserable and lonely a lot of the time
*Feeling hopeless and wanting to die
*Finding it difficult to concentrate
*Not looking after your personal appearance
*Changes in sleep pattern: sleeping too little or too much
*Tiredness and lack of energy
*Changes in appetite
*Frequent minor health problems, such as headaches or stomach-aches
*Some people believe they are ugly, guilty and have done terrible things.
If you have all or most of these signs and have had them over a long period of time, it MAY mean that you are depressed. You may find it very difficult to talk about how you are feeling.
Depression is usually caused by a mixture of things, rather than any one thing alone. Events or personal experiences
can be a trigger. These include family breakdown, the death or loss of a loved one, neglect, abuse, bullying and physical illness. Depression can also be triggered if too many changes happen in your life too quickly.
People are more at risk of becoming depressed if they are under a lot of stress, have no one to share their worries with, and lack practical support.
Depression may run in families due to genetic factors. It is also more common in girls and women compared to boys. Depression seems to be linked with chemical changes in the part of brain that controls mood. These changes prevent normal functioning of the brain and cause many of the symptoms of depression.
There are a lot of things that can be done to help people who suffer from depression. Simply talking to someone you trust, and who you feel understands, can lighten the burden. It can also make it easier to work out practical solutions to problems. For example, if you are stressed out by exams, you should talk to your teacher or school counsellor.
If you are worried about being pregnant, you should go and see your general practitioner or family planning clinic. Here are some things to remember:
*talk to someone who can help
*keep as active and occupied as possible, but don't overstress yourself
*you are not alone - depression is a common problem and can be overcome.
YOU can help another young person as well. It can be very hard for young people to put their feelings into words. You can help by asking sympathetically how they are feeling, and listening to them. If the depression is dragging on and causing serious difficulties, it's important to seek treatment. Your general practitioner will be able to advise you about what help is available and to arrange a referral to the local child and adolescent mental health service.
Many young people will get better on their own with support and understanding. For those whose symptoms are severe and persistent, The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends that the young person is treated initially with a psychological therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for 3 months. CBT is a type of talking treatment that helps someone understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour (see Royal College of Psychiatrists leaflet on CBT.
Antidepressant medication should only be used with a psychological therapy such as CBT. Antidepressant medication needs to be taken for six months after the young person feels better. Mild depression should not be treated with antidepressants, but instead with general help and support.
There is evidence that some antidepressants called SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) can increase thoughts of suicide, this is why it is not a good idea turning to drugs, even prescribed ones.
Basically to sum up everything I have said: Speak to someone if you are feeling down. Dont think just because you are a little bit down you are depressed, because most young people, even myself, get down now and again due to everyday stresses. Things WILL get better I promise. There are services out there for young people.
Please PM me if you want to talk to me because I am caring and will always offer a listening ear to anyone who needs me.
Also if you have any questions, post them bellow...I will answer them striaght away! I hope you have found this information useful to you.
Love Joseph XxX
