The Problem of Teenage Depression

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Depression is a huge problem for teenagers in America, according to the Mayo Clinic “Depression affects 20% of teens in the United States” (“Diseases and Conditions ”). That is an alarming amount of teenagers who experience this life-consuming illness. Many people assume a teenager’s change in behavior is another phase that will die out in a month or so; however, there is more to it than what many people think. Teen depression is as old as time itself and can be defined as “… a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer” (“Depression”). Often, it goes without notice because the teenage years are such difficult times with all the changes happening in their lives and stress being placed by schools, jobs, parents, and coaches. In the past, medical professionals did not think teenagers were capable of feeling the type of pain depression causes. New research and studies show that life experience is only a small factor in depression. Depression is caused by the imbalance of chemicals in a person’s brain. Someone who is 12 is capable of being just as depressed as someone who is 40. Teenage depression can also affect a person’s adult life. Many adults who suffer from depression also experienced some type of chronic depression as a teenager. Teenage depression can cause problems not only in the present, but in the future as well. Often depression goes undiagnosed in teenagers because of all the chaos going on in their lives. The teenage years are considered a time of change so it is not easy to differentiate between common changes and those brought on by depression. It is also a time known for rebelling and becoming distant to parents which also makes it difficult t... ... middle of paper ... ...ks Cited Bringing Teen Depression to Light." CBS Evening News. CBS. 30 March 2009. Television. Web. 3 February 2014 Cobain, Beverly. When Nothing Matters Anymore. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing Inc., 1998. Print. “Depression.” Kids Health. Nemours. n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2014 “Diseases and Conditions: Teen Depression.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 07 Nov. 2012. Web. 24 Feb. 2013. Koplewicz, Harold. “More than Moody: Recognizing and Treating Adolescent Depression.” The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter Vol 18: 12 (2002): Print. Kersting, K. “Teen Depression Can Affect Adult Happiness.” American Psychological Association. American Psychological Association, 03 September 2003. Web. 10 February 2014. "Teenage Depression." All Psychology Careers. The Psychology Career Center, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.

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