Tips for Teens Struggling With Depression

Posted by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen Sep 13, 2009

Kendra is a reader who commented on my Help for Depressed Teenagers article -- she's a senior in high school. She's dealing with a breakup, is crying for no reason, is eating more, and just wants to be happy. What can she do to deal with depression?

Here are a few ideas...

Tips for Teens Struggling With Depression

Know that it's not just you. We all have these masks we put on when we're with people -- and we may be sadder, more anxious, and more depressed when we're alone. A LOT of people are like this. If you're a teen struggling with depression, remember that your friends, classmates, teammates, and other peers are dealing with similar feelings!

Remember the role hormones play in teenage depression. When you're a preteen or teenager, your hormones are in flux -- and this totally affects your moods, emotions, thoughts, and feelings about others and yourself. Alot of your crying jags, laughing fits, periods of fatigue, and spells of anxiety are because of your hormones. Since you can't control your hormones (unless you go on the birth control pill), you just have to ride out your emotions. Sometimes just knowing that it's your hormones that could be causing these wild emotions can help you deal with them. These emotions WILL pass.

Don't forget about Seasonal Affective Disorder. Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD affects millions of people. It's also known as the winter blues or seasonal depression, because it's triggered by less light in the fall. To overcome teen depression, consider natural treatments for Seasonal Affective Disorder -- read Tips for Light Therapy and Seasonal Affetive Disorder.

Take care of and tune in to your body. The healthier you are physically, the healthier you'll be emotionally and mentally. If you're struggling with weight gain or obesity, read Weight Loss for Teens. If you're looking for natural ways to lift your spirits, improve your mood, and overcome depression for teenagers and adults, read Natural Treatments for Depression. Also -- tune in to your thoughts and emotions. What are you really dealing with? What are you afraid to face? What emotions are too scary to let out?

Get help for teenage depression. Do you believe your signs or feelings of depression go beyond the normal sadness and anxiety we all feel sometimes? Do you think you're dealing with more than hormonal fluctuations or Seasonal Affective Disorder? Then you need to get help. You have to overcome your feelings of embarrassment and reluctance -- you have to let go of your fear of what people will think. Remember, guidance counselors, teachers, coaches, and other adults are often good at dealing with problems -- just make sure you choose the right person to talk to! Pick someone smart, responsible, and trustworthy.

Read How Do I Get Help for My Depression? for more tips for depressed teenagers.

If you have any questions or thoughts on these tips for teens struggling with depression, please comment below...