Teenage Depression Causes
Q: I think this is...actually the most serious moment in my life, even though
it might not seem so?
For just a little while ago I stood infront of the mirror in my little
bathroom trying to wash my face in cold water.Those red eyes, swollen from
crying such a long time.I just came from the shower.I stood there on the
floor and let water drip down on the floor and couldnt help feeling this
strong helplessness and I slowly put the wet towel up to my right shin to
use it like a pillow.How long have this been going on?I can almost remember
the time when I was sad and taking a shower would wash away my sadness and
give me piece for a little while, the water was my tears.I know I soon might
be without words again and stop writing...left to emptyness once again.It
isnt always that easy, and that my english isnt always that great either
will have to make me forgive myself.It might be hard to understand even if I
could speak english perfectly fine.I find myself begging for help, maybe for
the last time ever, this time to the world.I could tell everything about me,
cause there is nothing for me to hide...I could let you read me like I was
an open book, Im begging for help.Im just 19...maybe it isnt possible to
even understand how much I have gone through even though Im young and you
know, all teenagers are going through a hard time in their life.Atleast
thats what I have been told, and that is what I believe too.It is a hard
world.
A:Yes. The causes aren't always so easy, but people like to make them
seem as though they are.
Yes. It took courage to do that. I am glad for you that she took it
well. I am not an authority, but I hope you come to terms with it-- I
expect you will (I can't think of a better way to say that).
None of us can completely hit the nail on the head. We try, but we
all feel that we are missing something. Little bits of it come out
the way you want, but the whole big thing doesn't sometimes. That's
okay. Keep speaking, and bits will come out.
"Having a depressive episode as a teen more than doubled the risk
of having another depressive episode in young adulthood," says
Ian H. Gotlib, PhD, co-author of the study. The study also found
that only about one in four people who had been diagnosed with
depression as teens said they remained free of psychiatric
illness in early adulthood.
"As a general rule of thumb, depression in adolescence seems to
be underdiagnosed and underappreciated," says Robert L. Findling,
MD, of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, who
commented on the study for WebMD. "We are quite aware that this
is a malignant and potentially lethal disorder. The leading cause
of death in young people is suicide. But the earlier the disorder
is caught, the less malignant it is, just like any disorder in
medicine.