Age 17

Emma, Age 17		We all feel down and depressed at some point in our lives. What you need to remember is that these hard times WILL pass and the next day will be better than the last, especially if you get treatment. Depression isn't just a bad case of the blues. It is an illness. There are plenty of resources out there that can be used by depressed girls.
To see if you are depressed, or if someone you know is depressed, refer to the warning signs for depression (below), and see if they fit how you feel. If these symptoms keep you from enjoying your life, you should get professional help. By the age of 16, there is an increase in major depression in girls as compared with boys of the same age. Gay, lesbian and bisexual youth also have a higher incidence of depression because they don't feel like they fit in, and actually feel hated. Both girls and gay youth may have higher incidence of depression because of low self-esteem. Depression can get so serious that girls will have thoughts of suicide. If you are having suicidal feelings or if your friend or a girl you know has suicidal feelings, you should get help. Click on suicide above for more information.

Warning Signs Experiences feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness or worthlessness Stops being social Feels sad, tired, anxious, irritable, or as if she is "going crazy" Shows a change in behavior at school, work, and other activities Stops showing interest in things previously enjoyed Starts neglecting the physical appearance or personal hygiene Changes eating and/or sleeping habits Purposefully tries to harm self by starving, disobeying medical instructions, or using drugs. Has difficult or painful times, such as having symptoms of a major illness often these are hard-to-explain symptoms Has problems concentrating Significant weight loss or gain - overeating or poor appetite Has thoughts of death or suicide (this is a warning sign for suicide)		"Depression" by Emma Schutz Fort.
Many of these warning signs are also signs of being suicidal. Suicide often occurs because of untreated depression. Treatment Between 80 to 90 percent of all people with depression respond to treatment. The different types of treatment are often used in combination with one another but you should work with you health care provider to find the right combination that works for you. "Talk-Therapy" - This kind of counseling has shown to be helpful with most forms of depression. Therapy can be either short-term or long-term; can focus on behavior, thinking, feeling or some combination of the three; and can involve working one-on-one with a therapist, or as a participant in a group. Medicines / Medication - Many prescription drugs, which are now on the market, have proven to be effective in lifting most depressions. Some have unpleasant side effects, however, and you may need to try different types of antidepressants. You must see your physician in order to be prescribed these drugs. How do the medicines work? When a person is depressed, they have a lower level of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter (a chemical which helps the brains to communicate with itself and with the rest of the body). When your level of serotonin is too low, your brain and the rest of your body can not respond as quickly as when you are not depressed. So while you continue to be confronted with conflicts and everyday difficulties, your ability to handle these problems is impaired. Antidepressants raise the level of serotonin in the brain and cause the brain to keep more of its own serotonin in circulation. Antidepressants are not stimulants or "mood-altering" drugs. They are also not addictive and have few serious side effects. Antidepressants help you to recover who you really are. Medications are usually prescribed for a 6-12 month period. The effectiveness is evaluated on an on-going basis to decide about future treatment. Helping A Friend You are not responsible for your friend's depression. You can't fix it alone, without any professional help. You should try not to give advice or take charge. Just listen to her, you can use the following listening techniques. Be supportive-Don't criticize, minimize, or deny any feelings or pain your friend is having. Show that you care-Stay interested and in touch. Be honest-If you are frightened by your friend's behavior of comments, say so. Don't act superficially cheerful around them, you should, however, assure them that the pain and depression they feel is temporary and that depression is treatable. Know when to back off. -If you start to feel angry or frustrated that your friend does not seem to be listening or changing. Just explain that you need some time out and will talk later. Seek help if needed- If you feel that your friend is denying a serious depression, you may want to talk with a mental health professional about how to proceed. You may want to recommend that your friend speak with a counselor or other mental health professional if you feel that it is needed. Resources / More Information National Foundation for Depressive Illnesses (1-800-248-4344) Has recorded information about depression. You will also receive instructions on how to get more information and a list of health care providers in your area that work with depression. National Institute of Mental Health (1-800-421-4211) Call for free brochures, ones in Spanish, information for women and other groups. National Mental Health Association (1-800-969-6642) Call to get free information on many mental health topics, or to receive a national directory of local mental health associations. Some Sites to check out: (Please note that these links take you off our site. Use your BACK button in the top left corner of your browser to get back here.) http://www.depression.com http://www.teenadvice.org/ Home