Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Teen Depression

Teenage Depression
Research
                A dilemma I have personally found is taking storm is the issue of teenage depression. The number of teenagers registering for depression has risen up so fast; about 20% of teens reach depression before they reach adulthood. If left untreated, the buildup of teen depression can increase a teenager’s risk of suicide by up to twelve times. Teenage depression affects people differently, with some dealing with mood disorders, social isolation, or even psychological disorders. Teen depression can be incredibly troubling, seeing as just how the person is right between the verge of finishing ones teenage years and entering young adulthood. Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders among the United States, affecting young adults as well as teens. So many teens are affected, that in 2014, about 2.8 million 12-17 year olds suffered a depressive episode throughout the year. Teens can express their depression throughout all times of the year, sometimes their feelings are shown more in specific seasons of the year, which bring out their sulking thoughts. There is no specific victim for depression, males and females are equally vulnerable to be victim of depressing thoughts, regardless of race, gender, or social ranking. Examples that outline can stem from for example, boys being socially taught not to express feelings out in the open as often, so one might bottle them up in an unhealthy manner until they begin to consume the person mentally. If one is left untreated, negative consequences and suffering can ensue within the patient, such as struggling with social interactions in important locations, such as school work, and relationships with people; personal and family. In regards to those who do not consider getting help, those who do, which is only 33%, get the help they need, which is sad, because 80% of teens with depression can be successfully treated. If left untreated, depression ends up being the number one cause for suicide, and the third leading result of death for teenagers.

Personal
            This topic is important and such a big deal to me because it personally affected someone in my family. I had no idea until the worst came to worst, but it was then and there when I found out my brother was suffering from depression. I was completely shocked, because he never displayed any symptoms or signs of being depressed, until I fully opened my eyes; I saw the transformation unfold in front of me. Signs I saw were his change in behavior, and people he associated himself with that were an absolute bad influence for him to be around. I myself felt small signs of depression at time, but that was years ago, and from what I remember I felt like it was seasonal; I would feel a bit down for a while but then it would go away. My brother on the other hand, was dealing with it more personally than anything I’ve ever felt. It was the summer before I started my first year at CSULA, and over the course until my brother finally got the help he needed, he had about 2-3 episodes. I remember coming home one day, and the first thing my parents told me was that they were ready to take my brother to a doctor to get help, because they didn’t know what to do anymore. My parents were describing my brother as speaking to them incredibly rudely, and went so far as to stare at us in a look of almost disgust. He would try to run away sometimes, and we’d have to chase him down. From his first episode to the point where we took him to get help, he got progressively worse and acted out more, such as treating us with disrespect. Once my brother got help, he was sent to a mental health center, where he was in the hands of the doctors for a couple of days, and progressively got better. He now has therapy sessions almost once every week. He is back to his old self, and we are more aware of what his issue is, and how we can help him whenever he feels down. Although he said and did things that were out of his character, it is important to know he wasn’t acting like his usual self, and those actions he did do not define him. He is a member of my family, and for better or worse, he will always be my brother, and I will be there to help him whenever he needs me. 


References
Teen Depression." I Need a Lighthouse. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.


Empfield, Maureen, and Nick Bakalar. Understanding teenage depression: a guide to diagnosis, treatment, and management. New York: H. Holt, 2001. Print.
Joshua Cabrera
Ismael Cabrera
Ana Edith Lacunza Rios

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