Tag: Depression

Teen Depression: How Parents Can Help Prevent This By Promoting Physical And Mental Health

Teen depression is a serious problem that can cause long-lasting physical and emotional problems.

By promoting your child’s physical and mental health, you can help him or her handle stressful situations that might trigger teen depression.

There is no single cause of teen depression. Genetics and environment may play a role.

Some teens are more prone to depression than others:

  • Children of depressed parents.
  • Children who have anxiety or behavior problems.
  • Teen girls may be more vulnerable than teen boys.
  • Children with health problems, stress or the loss of an important person in their life.

Teens dealing with depression are more likely to experience teen pregnancy, abuse drugs and alcohol, and perform poorly at school and at work than other teens.

Teen depression is linked to an increase risk of suicide and suicide attempts.

How can parents prevent teen depression?

  • Praise your child’s skills. Self esteem and self perceptions are affected by poor performance in school, get involved with their teachers, praise their other strengths-whether in music, athletics, relationships or other areas.
  • Promote participation in organized activities. This will boost self-esteem and increase his or her social network.
  • Encourage physical activity. Have them get one hour or more physical activity a day.
  • Provide parental support. Remind your child that you care by listening, showing interest in his or her problems, and respecting his or her feelings.
  • Talk to your child. An early warning sign of teen depression is isolation. Set aside time to talk to your child.

If you’re concerned that your child will develop or has developed teen depression, consult your Doctor to find out about depression prevention programs or cognitive behavioral therapy as studies have shown taking extra steps such as these can help.

Are You SAD? Do You Have Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Some people experience a serious mood change during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight.

This condition is called Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD.

SAD is a type of depression.

Here are the symptoms of SAD:

  • Sad, anxious or empty feelings.
  • Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism.
  • Irritability or restlessness.
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you would normally enjoy.
  • Fatigue and decreased energy.
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.
  • Difficulty sleeping.
  • Changes in weight.
  • Thoughts of death or suicide.

SAD is a serious condition – a subtype of major depressive disorder in which life can be severely compromised.

Far more of us experience similar but less intense symptoms, becoming just short of clinically depressed.

What can you do to prevent being SAD?

  • Stop hitting the snooze button. Keep the same sleep hours on weekdays and weekends.
  • Eat at the same time every day and no later than 8:00 PM for dinner. Our biological clocks respond to meal timing and consistency is king.
  • Schedule some outside time in outdoor light. Nothing beats real sunlight to help cure the winter doldrums.
  • Exercise daily and try to avoid late day workouts.
  • “Let there be light” and use a light-therapy box 30 minutes before work.

Light therapy probably won’t cure seasonal affective disorder, depression or other conditions. But it may ease symptoms, increase your energy levels and help you feel better about yourself and life.

Light therapy can start to improve symptoms within just a few days. In some cases, though, it can take two or more weeks.

If you are still feeling blue despite actively trying to lighten your days, check in with your Doctor as you may have clinically significant depression.