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Teenage Depression There are many teens suffering from teenage depression but are unaware of it and are not getting help for it. Many times they do not realize they even have a problem. Puberty is a time when the body is making some changes and this may be part of the reason for depression. Experts believe that changes in the body is one cause of depression and when other events take place in one’s life, it triggers the onset of depression. Depression is not caused by any one event but several factors can cause it. There are different types of depression in teenagers and a few of them are Bipolar and Dysthymia. Depression also is sometimes combined with other mental illnesses such as Attention Deficit Disorder, eating disorders, and self injury. They will need to be treated for all problems, not just the depression. If the teen is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others, they need to be hospitalized immediately. This is a choice that is hard for a parent to make but it is for the safety and well being of the child and those around them. Giving anti depressants to children is a controversial subject. It is thought that the anti depressants will have a great impact on the development of the child. The maker of the anti depressant Effexor has warned against giving anti depressants to children because of the long term effect it may have on the child. Therapy is considered a much safer and healthier treatment for the teenager. There is no danger of side effects that way and is still a very good method of treatment to help the child. Depression will most likely have negative long term effects on the child in question and their family. The decision of whether or not to treat a teenager with medication depends on the severity of the depression and what will happen to the child if medication is not given. The parents should educate themselves so they can make a smart informed decision about their child. Bipolar should be ruled out before any anti depressants are prescribed for a child. The anti depressants can cause mania so since Bipolar is a combination of depression and mania, it would only hurt the child more. Antidepressants can cause side effects so it is important for the doctor to prescribe the right one if they are going to use antidepressants on the child. There are alternative medications that may be better for the child than the prescription medications. There is also Hypnotherapy which may be safer to use than the medications. If you are the parents of a depressed teenager, make sure you understand what is going on and all of the options for treatment are clear and the doctor has given you the safest options for your child. It would be a good idea to find out what triggered the depression in the first place. Therapy may be the only way to find this out. All Text Copyright © Safety2005.org |
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