Mental Health-Depression
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Teen Education About Depression It's normal for you to feel sad, mad, disappointed, irritated, or to be in bad moods from time to time. But when negative feelings and thoughts linger for a long time and limit your ability to feel like your normal self- it might be depression. Depression is a mood disorder. Some signs of depression are: * Changes in appetite * Trouble concentrating * Low energy * Physical problems * Changes in sleeping patterns for no real reason * More emotional about things * Gaining or losing weight without trying * Avoiding others – wanting to be alone * Not interested in activities or hobbies anymore * Mood changes * Negative thoughts about yourself or others Helpful Tips on Healthy Coping If you are having a hard time coping with a situation, are feeling down and out, or think you might be depressed, don’t wait for things to get worse... seek help today! Below are some helpful tips to get you started! • If you are finding that you are spending a lot of time in your room alone- get out of your room. Go watch TV with the family, visit a friend or family member, take your dog for a walk ~ get out of that room. • Talk with a trusted friend, family member, teacher, or coach. Don’t try to ignore, hide, or deny how you are feeling. Sometimes just talking with someone can make you feel better. • Journal. Sometimes writing down how you are feeling helps. Tip: If you start with something negative, end with something positive. Look up “positive affirmations” ~ these can help you get started with a positive thought for the day. • Spend time with people you love, and who love you. Go for a walk or a bike ride, play a game, cook a new recipe, make a craft, watch a funny movie. Just enjoy your time hanging out. This can help you get your mind off of negative thoughts. • Be patient and kind with yourself. When you are feeling grumpy or irritable, it's sometimes easy for others to get frustrated or angry with you – especially if they don’t understand how you are feeling. Quickly apologize and let them know you are having a bad day. This lets them know you are not intentionally disrespecting them. Be patient and kind with yourself- acknowledge you are not perfect and move on! You got this! • Talk to a counselor at school. A counselor can help give you support at school. If you are feeling down or need someone to problem solve with- ask to talk with your counselor. • Go see your doctor / pediatrician. Your doctor may want to do a complete physical exam. This can help check for other health conditions that could cause depression-like symptoms. If the doctor thinks you have depression, or a similar mood disorder, they may refer you to a therapist, physiatrist, or psychologist for an evaluation. • Seek help. Ask your parent to take you to a counselor. Counselors can help you talk out your problems, can help you come up with healthy ways to cope with your problems, and can help you deal with your feelings. It feels good to talk to someone. Be patient- It may take you a few times to find the right person but once you do- it can be really helpful! More Things YOU can do…. • Eat well ~ vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats like chicken, tuna, and turkey. Try to cut out sugary drinks with a lot of caffeine. • Get good sleep. Try not to stay up late watching TV. Instead, wind down with a good book or some soft relaxing music. • Exercise! Take a walk, run, stretch, lift weights, anything to get that blood pumping and those happy endorphins running through your veins! If you are having thoughts of wanting to hurt yourself or others, or are having thoughts of suicide or not wanting to be alive... Call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org text: HOME to 741741.
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