Depression
For some young people, feelings of sadness and unhappiness outweigh their happy and excited emotions. When you have depression, these feelings become overwhelming and long-lasting, affecting how you think, how you feel, and what you do. These feelings can last for weeks, months or years. Depression is a serious illness that has an impact on both physical and mental health. It makes coping with day-to-day life to be hard and leaves you feeling down most of the time. Early detection is important as untreatened depression can lead to suicide.
Types of Depression
There are different types of depression. They are major depression, dysthymia disorder, melancholia, psychotic depression, cyclothic disorder, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder.
Major depression involves low mood and/or loss of interest and pleasure in usual activities. This interferes with a person's life including their school, work and social relationships. Dysthymia disorder have symptoms that are similar to major depression, but are less severe. Melancholia is a term used to describe a severe form of depression where many of the physical symptoms are present. Psychotic depression is a depression where a person can lose touch with reality and experience psychosis, which involves things like hallucinations, delusions or being paranoid. Cyclithymic disorder is often described as a milder fo of bipolar disorder. The duration of these symptoms are shorter, less severe and not as regular. Bipolar disorder is when a person experiences periods of depression and periods of mania, with periods of normal in between. Seasonal affective disorder is a mood disorder that has a seasonal pattern. It is very rare in Australia. |
How does it Affect Teenagers?
Depression can affect teenagers by taking over his/her life. Once you are diagnosed with a depression, it can be quite hard to get treatment. Depression can stop teenagers from being social and wanting to go out with friends because they are too upset. They could be under a lot of stress at school, or could be getting bullied. It can cause a lot of stress on your family as you may be in sadness everyday.
Symptoms
Depression affects how a person feels about themselves. Not every person who is experiencing depression will have all of these symptoms.
Feelings:
Physical:
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Thoughts:
Behaviour:
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Statistics
About 4% of people will experience a major depressive episode in a 12 month period. One in 16 young people aged 16-24 experience and live with depression each year, with girls experiencing depression more than boys.
Treatments
There are different methods for treatment, depending on what type of depression you are experiencing. The most effective are physiological treatments and antidepressant medications. Physiological treatments provide a supportive environment for a person to work through difficulties. Psychologists help by providing skills. Antidepressants are medicines that can help slow down your depression. You could see a doctor or a local support group for advice and help.
Support Services
Anxiety Disorder Association of Victoria is support group running in Altona, Coburg and Kew, Victoria. They provide support for anxiety and depression. They assist you in the path of recovery. They have a very helpful website with lots of resources.
Anxiety and Depression Support Group are support groups where 8-10 people meet at a centre, The group has lots of hand on activities and the provide plenty of information. The group is run by two of our most experienced staff. They have four location across Victoria, which are Port Melbourne, South Melbourne, St Kilda and Elwood |