Dubai: Teenage girls are three times as likely to experience depression as boys the same age, according to new studies. They are also at higher risk of developing heart disease, reports Teen Vogue.
The good news? With the right help, young women not only recover, but learn the skills to battle depression, so if it resurfaces they know how to handle it.
There’s a myriad of reasons why teen girls have increased rates of depression. Beside all the hormonal changes young women experience, there are also biological, genetic, cognitive and other components that play a part. Moreover, external factors in a young woman’s life can contribute to depression, from social issues at school to college applications, major life changes, and more. Social media also pressure teenage girls, making them vulnerable to cyberbullying.
Research shows depressed teens may have a family history of depression, or perhaps didn’t grow up in a household that encouraged emotional expression. Depressed teens also might have physically developed earlier than friends, which can contribute to body image and self-esteem issues. Traumatic life events can play a part as well, as can a lack of coping skills for overcoming them.
Luckily, identifying the symptoms of depression is step one toward moving on.
See the signs
Depression is a mood disorder, and sufferers feel persistently sad – it affects how you think, feel, behave and express yourself. Banishing the blues isn’t as easy as just deciding to go out and get over it. It can be a challenge to just get through the day.
Changes in appetite, weight, mood and energy can also indicate that something might not be right, along with a dependence on substances — drugs or alcohol, especially if you’ve ever been into them before. Sometimes sadness makes you crave sleep until you recuperate (which, unlike for the flu, doesn’t actually work). If you’re skipping out on fun to stay in bed and still never seem to have enough sleep, you might be more than tired: you might be struggling with depression without realising it.
But depression is serious business, and it might call for professional help. Therapy, counselling, time with a psychologist, and medication shouldn’t be stigmatised: They are channels for building the toolkit you need to deal with your problems, not just now but for the future. Consulting a pro is an opportunity, and — like when you see any doctor — a means to discovering the origins of your symptoms and mending them.
The writer is an intern at XPRESS
