The Health Nut Blog

More and more cases of depression in teens are being reported today by doctors and scientists.  This may be because more teens are asking for help with their condition, because doctors are getting better at diagnosing the condition, or simply because there are more and more cases to be reported.  Or it may be a combination of these various factors, but whatever the reason, Depression in Teens is not something that should be ignored.  It's unfortunate that some extreme cases have led to tragedy, so whether you're a teen concerned with your condition or a parent, it's important to sit up and take note, and then take action.

The many causes of depression in teens range from physical problems internally to external circumstances that cause them to learn depression.  Depression itself is caused by a chemical reaction in the brain, where it does not regulate and release a chemical necessary for a good mood.  When this chemical is not released properly, not only is there a lack of happiness but the overall mood is sadness.Alot of times you may find that the brain is not releasing the proper chemical and there are problems with imbalance.  Other physical causes include the fluctuation of hormones that are common during puberty; sometimes these fluctuations can be so severe that depression can set it.  Some of these physical causes of depression in teens can go away over time, as they get older and those hormones level off.Don't ever dance with the devil and ignore some of the symptoms and other issues.

It's thought that problems such as bullying can cause Depression .  Keep in mind that often when a person feels trapped and helpless in their situation this can lead to depression, regardless of the situation they feel trapped in - a bad marriage, severe debt, a stressful job, and so on.A feeling of helplessness in bad situations at school, work, or even at home can really be difficult for teens especially if they feel as if they don't have someone to talk to about thier problems.  This helplessness and frustration with the problem, as well as the humiliation they may be suffering, can often cause depression in teens.In reality a lot of situations are similar to how a teen may feel when he or she is pressured to do something.  For instance if they live in an abusive home or even if one parent is negligent or abusive, if they are using any kind of drugs, if they have failing grades, or if they feel they are under tremendous amounts of pressure to perform academically or athletically, these factors too can cause depression in teens.

There are many ways to treat depression in teens and having a good support system is of utmost importance.  Teens should be able to approach their parents with any problem they have an know that they won't be chastised or punished but rather will be helped and assisted, and depression should be no different.

# posted by NeilG @ 4:20 PM