Depression is a pathological condition of grief and is defined as an emotional disorder. depression is as old as civilization and is one of the earliest illnesses described in medicine.
Depression, the illness of the 21st century
Depression can be mild or stronger, or it can manifest itself as a melancholy and can turn into a very intense sadness where the individual completely stops taking care of themselves. This is a complex mood disorder that is one of the well-known mental illnesses in the world. Depression is an unusual phenomenon because it manifests in different ways.
People lose the ability to feel pleasure and they are no longer interested in the activities they had previously enjoyed.
Depressed adolescents
Many adolescents go through the depressive episodes as they are searching for their identity and they can be confused during that search. Depression among young people is different from depression among the adult population. As the stereotype is that the Depressed person is plump, irritable and unfriendly, Parents often do not notice when their child is depressed because it can present quite differently from the described stereotypical behavior.
How to help your depressed teenager?
- If you want to help your child, you have to hear and understand him. Change the way you talk to him. Set yourself up as a friend who wants to help.
- Do not pretend to understand something you do not understand. Instead, be interested in the interests and desires of your child. Only when you hear his side of the story, you will be able to talk to him.
- Set aside time each day to talk.Even though your adolescent child might want to talk to you when you are tired, you still need to talk as they need you.
- Do not judge the appearance of your child. If you do that, you will be the enemy. Instead, make sure to show your children what is desirable and what is healthy or what's unhealthy.
- Take part in activities together and let your child know that they can talk to you and ask for help. It is also important that your behavior shows it. If an adolescent looks for help and you show a judgemental attitude or even punish them trust might be lost.
- Give your child some freedom but do not lose authority. Let your child make their decisions on their own but share your experiences and your thoughts on it. If you try to limit your child's freedom, the chances are that you will only make depression worse.
Helpguide.org points out that when you are uncertain, you should get professional help.
They advise that "When depression is severe, don’t hesitate to seek professional help from a psychologist or psychiatrist. A mental health professional with advanced training and a strong background treating teens is the best bet for your child’s care."
