Teenage Depression

I am sure you have heard or seen the commercial stating that "Depression hurts".    While at first you might wonder, "Depression.......hurting???"  Once the light bulb goes on,  you realize that mental anguish is also physical so yes, depression can hurt.   So, what do teens have to be depressed about?   By simply remembering your teenage years, you know why teenagers can become depressed.   The constant need to perform and to live up to expectations permeates the teenage life.  Not every teenager is going to feel that they measure up to the level of expectations placed on them by their parents, family, friends, school, and society.   Teenagers might also not know that what they are feeling is depression  versus a phase that will go away.  The lack of knowledge about available resources is also a concern that needs to be addressed.  One interesting fact is that 14-17 year old teenage girls have higher incidence rates than boys that same age.   Whether this has to do with hormone levels and gender differences, is not known.  One interesting issue is that teen depression does not present in the same way as adult onset depression.  For this reason I have included the following video that shows how depression differs with age.  I learned a lot and I hope you do as well.

A friend of mine told me of an experience she had with a young teenager who was prescribed medication to help with sleep.  Two side effects of the medication are suicidal ideation and tartive dyskinesia.  The teenager after taking this new medication for a week developed both.  Why do I bring this up?  Because the chemistry within the brain is sensitive to changes or imbalances.  These imbalances or changes can result in symptoms that are not of the individuals creation but from stimulus out of their control.  I found this one piece of information astounding.  I had never connected the fact that sometimes people experience their symptoms side effects.  Medications are chemicals and when ingested and metabolized they will change the user by producing either a desired effect or one that is unintended.  For this reason it is extremely important for clinicians to listen to their patients about how medications are making them feel.  Good education about the medications prescribed is extremely important in order for individuals to take medications appropriately and responsibly.  There are a lot of wonderful medications that enhance and enable people to live happier purposeful lives.  We should not throw the baby out with the bathwater, but rather be proactive in seeking information regarding the medications we take.   Today depression is treatable with medications that less than 20 years ago did not exist.  These new medications have given clinicians options in treating depression and other mental illnesses.  While depression hurts, there are options available that stop the pain.

Teenage Pregnancy in the United States in 2012

Teenage pregnancy has long been an issue in the United States.  Other countries similar to the US have drastically lower rates of teenage pregnancy.  Why is their such a difference?  Is it because European schools talk openly about sex and options for prevention?  Perhaps, it is because parents in other countries communicate more openly about this topic.  Then again, it could be that religion plays a greater part in the lives of teenagers outside of the US.  Why teenage pregnancy happens is a BIG question that is as varied as the teenager’s pregnancy story. 

The Candies Foundation is committed to prevention of teenage pregnancy.  On their website, you can read the stories of young girls who became mothers at a young age.  Some became pregnant on purpose but for most it was a total life altering shock (Real stories, 2011). The reality in America is that 3 out of 10 girls will become pregnant by 20 years of age (Shuger, 2012).  Teenagers between the age of 18-19 have higher prevalence rates than their younger counterparts.  They are also more likely to state they are in a serious relationship more than those between 14-17 years of age.  Teenagers in their senior year of High School are making decisions that will affect them the rest of their life.  Where they go to school, what their major will be, will they leave the state or stay close to home, financial concerns on how to afford their college education, do they even want to go to college, what about their first job, and the car they dream about owning are just a few of the choices they are faced with.  This stage of transition into young adulthood is characterized with fear, stress, optimism, and a growing realization that reality is not what you thought it was. Just imagine putting a newborn into the mix and the potential stress level is astounding.  The level of responsibility for these young mothers changes overnight.  They were hanging out with friends and then instantly they are different from their peers.  It is the perfect set-up for depression to sneak in and grab hold.  Maternal depression affects girls that are young, have little education, poor perceived support, and are relatively poor.  I do not know a single teenage girl that has earned a doctoral degree and their first million by the time they are 19 years old.  Some young women are incredibly smart and go to graduate school early compared to their peers.  Most teenagers just want to be “normal” and do what their friends are doing.  Acceptance is a term used with this age group.  They don’t want to be the one that is left out or different because they are too smart, have glasses or an acne issue.  They definitely feel the influence from their friends and peers at this age and will make some decisions that are not wise or prudent.  Yet, life lessons learned through the prism of failure can keep teens moving in a positive forward manner.    

According to The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, a teenagers parents influence them to a greater degree than perhaps parents realize.  In fact when teenagers are asked who influences them the most they say their parent’s followed by their friends.   Parents and teenagers may not know how to talk about this sensitive subject with each other.  This difficult subject may make young girls uncomfortable and uneasy when their parents talk to them openly about it.  They may act as if they don’t care but if they become pregnant it is too late to talk about prevention.  Parents have a difficult time as well addressing the possibility that their teenage daughter might one day become pregnant.  They may not have the right words or be able to confront their daughter about the possibility of pregnancy.  For this reason The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has created a discussion guide titled “Too Young” to help parents be prepared to talk openly about this sensitive subject (Too young, 2004).  Perhaps this will help open communication lines and allow young girls to talk more openly with their parents about not only sex but also drugs, their friends, and their emotional well-being.   

I have included the following two video because it shows just how devastating teenage pregnancy is  with facts.  I also wanted to show that these are real people just like you and I, dealing with real overwhelming problems.  You may say that they should have known better, but that doesn't change the fact that they will live with their choice the rest of their life.  It also shows just how prevalent teenage pregnancy is in the United States in a very effective way.  So watch and let me know what your thoughts are on this issue.  

References

Real stories: Diary of a teen mom. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.candiesfoundation.org/RealStories1/realstories.html

 

Shuger, L. (2012).  Teen pregnancy and high school dropout: what communities are doing to address these issues.  Washington, DC: The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and American’s Promise Alliance

Too young (2009) The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy  http://www.thenationalcampaign.org/tooyoung/too_young_discussion_guide.pdf 

I left the hyper links active so that you can access this guide  and any of the websites if you need to.

Maternal Depression: Fact and Figures

Here are a few fact that I read on Mental Health America’s website.  A few of them may be surprising to you.

Depression is the leading cause of disability world wide among women.

Okay this one surprised me when I first read it.  Depression the leading cause of disability for women all over the world.  Then after reflection, how many women take care of someone else and not themselves.   How many women have children, aging parents or other relatives that they are caring for, not to mention their husband.  All of these individuals have expectations that they place on the women in their lives.  The manner in which women perform their day to day tasks is often seen as a reflection of worth.  If a women is a good homemaker she is generally thought to be a good mother.  If she has dishes in the sink and the floor needs to be vacuumed then a snap judgment on her worth is made.  The point being that we as human often misjudge women by how they preform and not on the content or desires of their character.  

4th leading cause of disease burden globally.
 

This is over infectious disease and medical illness such as congestive heart failure.  That means that depression is making a difference in millions of lives everyday, every hour and every minute of individuals and families lives.  The idea that we are all connected and therefore affected by the actions of each other should make this one statement a call for action.  The life of an individual is not isolated but connected to all those who come in contact with them.  Just like the pebble thrown in the water, the ripple effect may go outward and affect hundreds of people. Depression is not isolated but rather weaves itself into the lives of millions of people all over the world.

1 out of 5 women will suffer from depression in their lifetime.

Everyone can name five individuals that they know.  One of them has depression.  They may not shout it from the rooftops or put it on a billboard for all to read, just the same you know someone with depression.  

One-third of child bearing women have depression.

Childbirth should be one of those happy memories that women joyously recount to their children and grandchildren.  Yet, for many this time of increased stress and transition is clouded by depression.  Thoughts of worthlessness, doubt, and despair often accompany women who try to cope with the increased responsibilities but may not have the support of those around them or may not want others to judge them as a failure because sometimes life is just too much for them to handle.  Everyone no matter their age has had trials that were difficult.  We all have tough times that make us want to sit down and just cry for a while.  We all feel the expectations of those around us to perform and we all get depressed for a period of time.  The difference is the severity and the length of depression.  Those with depression may just need a listening nonjudgmental listening ear that gives them the opportunity to get it all out.  In grade-school we learned that everyone is different.  In high school we saw how different we were, the groups that form during this period is proof that we are not like cookie cutters, all shaped the same.  So, why do we expect the same out of everyone around us?  I am not for throwing out expectations completely but rather for listening to others before we judge and expecting everyone to perform how we want them to.   Depression is a real emotional and physical state that affects individuals mood.  Those with depression should know that they are not alone, others suffer with this illness just like they do.  Depression does not have to be a lifelong visitor every day.  There is help for those with depression so that they can live their lives just like the rest of the world. 

References

Depression in women. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=C7DF952E-1372-4D20-C8A3DDCD5459D07B

Mental Health America website has amazing resources that can help you and your love ones. Check them out at  http://www.nmha.org/go/depression