Effects on Teen Depression - Research Paper Example

of the of the 30 March Teen Depression Depression is one of the most significant factors that leads our youth towards suicidal attempts. Some of the significant factors which are responsible for the suicidal behavior in teens include mood disorders, anxiety, family conflicts, bullying by peers, anger, drug abuses and disruptive behaviors ("The Brown Child and Adolescent University Behavior Letter." N.PAG). In addition, recent stressful life is also equally responsible for depression in teen. As a result, teens are killing themselves leaving behind heartbroken families. a) Overwhelming Sense of Sadness If a person is depressed, an abnormal change in his/her habits occurs for example eating, sleeping, and tendency to tolerate others. These changes are known as clinical depression. The symptoms that lead to depression show lack of sleep, outburst, overwhelming sadness, changes in physical activities and suicidal thinking etc. Moreover, sadness is considered as a normal reaction when an individual is disappointed in life. Likewise, it may become an alarming situation if sadness converts into hopelessness, helplessness and worthlessness that may lead in clinical consultation. However, depression is a more severe situation, especially once it starts to interfere in day-to-day life and ability to work, study, eat and sleep. b) Feeling of Worthlessness and Guilty Unfortunately, when a person is in depression he feels worthless, flawed, and inadequate. In fact, it worsens the condition. A survey held by Dr. Aaron Beck revealed that 80% of the people who are suffering from depression showed hatred and dislike towards themselves ("Feeling Worthless and Depression). Moreover, a depressed person feels defeated in all the aspects of life, for example, in attractiveness, health, intelligence, work etc. all these negative thoughts for this reason lead to lower one’s self esteem. Feeling worthless and guilty is a painful thought that leads a person soon to believe that whatever he does is wide of the mark and he is naturally inferior. c) Irritability and Anger Irritability and anger rather than sadness in teenagers indicates vast changes in moods. A depressed person can be easily frustrated, has outbursts of anger, hostile and sometimes complaining. Furthermore, an irritable person every now and then complains unexplained aches and pains in body for instance headaches, stomachaches and pain in body as a result if medical examination is carried out no medical causes will be revealed. Hence, it indicates that a person is more likely on the road to depression. Above all, depressed teens are extremely sensitive to criticism, negative response and disappointment. On the other hand, they depart with their friends gathering and tend to isolate. For instance, teens that are fatally disheartened habitually make ‘attention-getting’ attempts deceitful on suicide. An escalating number of youths endeavor and are successful at committing suicide and for this reason; suicidal thoughts or behaviors should always be taken seriously ("Understanding Depression: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Help "). 2) Effects on Teen Depression There are significant effects of depression some of them are so serious that medical treatment may become necessary. Running away indicates a loud cry for aid in depression by a teenager. Another frequent effect due to depression is substance abuses in youths for example drugs and alcohol. Self-mutilation with an intention to injure oneself for instance, pulling of hair, cutting veins, self-burning etc. are definite signs of depression. Furthermore, the person shows irresponsible and reckless behavior thus, performing unsafe sex, reckless driving, careless attitude, self-hatred and suicidal thoughts. a) Drug and Alcohol Abuse When a person suffers from drug abuse as well as struggling with mental health problems, it is very difficult to escape this addiction; this is known as dual diagnose. Alcoholism in adolescence is a common indication of depression. Drug and alcohol abuse have their own unique symptoms moreover, if they are combined with depression the situation worsens. Unfortunately substance abusers habitually use drugs for self-medication of their anxiety and depression as a result, an individual already suffering from mental disorders alcohol abuse pushes towards the edge. On the contrary, anti-anxiety pills, mood stabilizers and other effective medications prescribed by the health consultant are made less effective by alcohol. According to the reports published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Siegel 698): Roughly, 50 percent of individuals with severe mental disorders are affected by substance abuse. 37 percent of alcohol abusers and 53 percent of drug abusers also have at least one serious mental illness. Of all people diagnosed as mentally ill, 29 percent abuse either alcohol or drugs” b) Suicide Suicide due to mental illness is the third largest cause of death among 15 to 24 years olds unfortunately; it is an extremely complex misfortune which happens time and again in the United States. The untreated mental illness that may lead an individual to attempt suicide includes depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders etc. in some cases a person does not demonstrate any signs of depression and mental illness but commits suicide, hence, this exhibits that a person is genetically depressed. Furthermore, a suicide attempt is usually surrounded by several reasons such as pessimistic life experiences or lack of successful treatment. c) Reckless behavior and violence Untreated depression may lead someone to get engage in violence and escapist behavior. Bipolar disorder is another common disorder that determines sudden mood swings from exaggerated optimism to aggressive behavior unfortunately; more than two millions of Americans are affected by this disorder. Reckless behavior indicates consequently, compulsive gambling, rash driving, engaging oneself into dangerous sports, unsafe sex, violent behavior, uncontrolled intake of alcohol etc. Mood disorders which lead towards hostility and recklessness can be treated with the combination of verbal consultation and medications. 3) Getting treatment for teen depression At times, it is not easy to determine that an adolescent is facing true state of depression, however, many teenagers suffer from mood swings as this behavioral characteristic is considered as an element of teenage hood. A medical consultant may perform several physical examinations as well as blood tests to ensure that a person is actually suffering from depression in fact; this may include a substance abuse test also. Moreover, a health care provider also checks the patient’s history, if he/she is a frequent marijuana smoker or a drug abuser. On the other hand, a medical consultant through patient’s history checks signs of other mental health problems that include loss of appetite, sadness, reckless behavior, schizophrenia, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Hence, medical treatment is provided by keeping in mind all the above symptoms of depression. These treatments include verbal therapy, antidepressant medicines and supports from family and health care provider (The HealthCentralNetwork). a) Offer Support Display hope, positivity and confidence in-patient and encourage appropriate treatment. Hence, emotional support must be provided to a patient by understanding, listening cautiously, and encouraging him/her. b) Seek out specialist Once depression is diagnosed in a patient, medical attention and rehibilitation should be provided. A medical consultant must provide support by assuring the patient that he/she will be cured. Proper medication must be taken and alcohol intake must be minimized thus, this may take several weeks. c) Encourage Physical and Social Activity Physical and social activities assist a lot in the treatment of depression. For instance, if a patient is living all alone, family and friends should make visits and calls, prepare meals for the patient and make him understand that he is not worthless as a result; it makes him feel superior and valuable. The patient must also exercise regularly. Walking in a park or going for swimming can make a difference in the patient’s condition. In addition, if someone is depressed and comes out with comments of being worthless and hated by everyone these varieties of statements must be opposed through positive and suitable comments. In short, encouraging a patient to merge with others and not to isolate oneself with the help of accurate treatment can overcome depression. Work Cited "Feeling Worthless and Depression | Psych Central "Web. 3/29/2012 . Siegel, Larry J. Criminology . Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth, 2006. Print. "The Brown Child and Adolescent University Behavior Letter." Brown University Child & Adolescent Behavior Letter 16.1 (2000): N.PAG. Print. The HealthCentralNetwork, Inc. "Adolescent depression " Health Scout. 03/29/2011 2011.Web. 3/29/2012 . "Understanding Depression: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, and Help "Web. 3/29/2012 . Read More