What does depression feel like?

Lately Abby, 14, hasn’t been acting like herself. While she used to hang out with friends after school, now she comes home and goes straight to her room or stares at the television for hours. Once a good student, several of her teachers have reported that she is having trouble turning in her assignments on time. When asked about this, she responds by saying, “I don’t know why I should bother. What’s the point?” When her friends call she says she doesn’t want to talk to them. She seems tired all the time. She hardly eats and is starting to lose noticeable amounts of weight. Whenever her parents try to talk to her about anything, she gets irritable and snaps at them, and she gets angry when they show concern or ask her what’s going on. At first this all seemed like typical teenage stuff, but it’s been going on for a couple of months without lifting. They are starting to wonder if something more serious could be going on.

What Abby’s parents don’t yet know is that Abby is suffering from depression. Depression is a serious emotional disturbance. It is more than just being “sad”; rather, it is a prolonged feeling beyond the sufferer’s control that can be caused by several factors including chemical imbalance, personality type, and bad life experiences. Many teens who are dealing with depression feel isolated and alienated, making it impossible for them to reach out for help. Parents should be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

• feelings of hopelessness, negativity, and pessimism
• loss of interest in participation in hobbies and activities once enjoyed including clubs, art, academics
• sudden changes in friends
• seemingly persistent sad, anxious, or listless behavior
• decreased energy or seeming “slowed down”
• sleep disturbances including both insomnia or oversleeping
• major amounts of weight loss or gain in short periods of time, and changes in normal appetite
• restlessness or irritability
• physical pains such as headaches or stomach problems that do not respond to treatment
• expressions of feeling worthlessness or helplessness
• indications of suicidal thoughts or attempts

Certain statements, including, “I can’t do anything. I’m worthless,” and, “I wish I were dead,” should not be ignored. If this type of behavior persists for a period of several weeks or longer, it is probably not just “typical teenage behavior,” and should not be ignored. Depression does not go away by itself, but it can be overcome with proper treatment.