If you are depressed...

Here's a guide to recognising the symptoms and how you can get over the blues.

Symptoms of depression

- Changes in eating and sleeping habits

- Weight gain or loss

- Missing classes, poor grades

- Withdrawal from friends and family

- No longer enjoying activities that were once pleasurable

- Indecision, lack of concentration, or forgetfulness

- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt

- Overreaction to criticism, irritability

- Frequent health complaints but no physical ailment

- Anger, rage, anxiety

- Substance abuse, thoughts of death or suicide

Depression triggers

- Death of a loved one, parents' incompatibility and break up, moving to a new place, abuse and bullying,

- Stress, especially if the person lacks emotional support.

- Hormonal/physical changes that occur during puberty.

- Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism can affect hormone balance and mood. Chronic physical illness can cause depression. However, once treated by a doctor, the depression usually disappears.

- Nutritional deficiencies may be caused by an amino acid imbalance or vitamin deficiency.

Effects of depression

- Substance abuse – Depressed teenagers often resort to illegal substances for relief from symptoms.

- Low self-esteem

- Eating disorders – Anorexia, bulimia etc

- Self injury

- Agitation, aggression, or high risk behaviours

How teenage depression is treated

Depression is commonly treated with therapy or with therapy and medication.

- Cognitive-behavioural therapy focuses on the causes of depression and helps change negative thought patterns.

- Group therapy is often very helpful for teens, because it breaks down their feelings of isolation.

- Family therapy helps a teenager feel that others share the responsibility for what happens in the family.

- Physical exercise is highly recommended. It causes the brain's chemistry to create more endorphins and serotonin, which alter mood.

- Creative arts such as drama, art and music acts as a channel for feelings of frustration and despair.

- Volunteer work.

What to do

- Talk to friends, parents, professors or a campus counsellor.

- Spend time with friends, who are cheerful and genuinely like you. Occupy yourself.

- Almost everyone feels depressed at some time. But the feeling also lifts eventually. With timely help it can be controlled, reduced and overcome.

What parents can do

- Express your love and support constantly.

- Be gentle but persistent if your child shuts you out. Do not ask a lot of questions, but let them know you are there for them.

- Be careful not to criticise once your child begins to talk. This will make them clam up.

- Encourage them to be active.

- The most important thing you can do as a parent is to listen — to them talking, their music, their friends, films and activities.

- Do not lecture or offer unsolicited advice.

- Do not try to talk them out of their feelings or solve their problems.

- Do not compare your teen's feelings, reactions or experiences to your own or to someone else's

- Parents who show their children that disagreements and painful feelings can safely be expressed — and that they can be resolved — make it safe for their children to open up to them.

- Information courtesy: www.helpguide.org