It is important for relatives to provide emotional support for the teenager for he or she may turn to alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
Activities, peers, schools, and work that used to bring these individuals happiness and pleasure no longer do. Symptoms can vary by age. In adolescents, depression may include physical complaints, such as headaches and stomachaches, as well as irritability, social withdrawal, and changes in eating habits. School and other usually enjoyed activities become less exciting and tiring. Sad moods, sleep disturbances, and lack of energy become more frequent (NIMH, "Teen Depression"). The mental illness alters a person's appetite, which causes him or her to eat more or less. Their sleep habits change; they may oversleep or sleep for fewer hours.
Those with the illness may become restless and agitated, engaging in fidgety movements and pacing. Others may feel inactive, lazy, and sluggish, experiencing great fatigue, lack of energy, and a feeling of being worn out of carrying a very heavy burden. These students may have trouble thinking, poor concentration, and problems with memory. They experience feelings of guilt, helplessness, self-blame, and worthlessness (NIMH, Teen Depression). Depression damages the teenager's self-confidence, self-esteem, and his or her ability to accomplish everyday tasks. Depression can be thought of as a dark, gloomy cloud over how the teenager sees themselves, the world, and the future. This cloud simply cannot be wished away, nor can it be ignored and magically disappear. There is a small percentage of seriously depressed people who commit suicide, and many more attempts it (Heller, Kalman, "Depression In Teens And Children").
Depression typically cannot be shaken or willed away. The type of treatment used will depend on the type and the severity of his or her symptoms ("Treatment - Teen Depression - Mayo Clinic"). The most effective treatment would be the combination of psychotherapy and prescribed antidepressant drugs.
