Depression

What is depression? Can young people also suffer from depression? You can find out more here.

“I feel really depressed today”. It’s a phrase you’ve probably heard around you a time or two. In everyday life, the term is often used to express that you are not feeling so well, that you feel rather down and powerless.

Not being in such a good mood, feeling sad and depressed, is part of life. Especially during the pandemic, many people feel that they are not doing well.

During puberty, this can be even more pronounced because the mood can be additionally influenced by hormonal changes. Of course, all the changes the body goes through during this time also have an influence. That’s quite normal and part of it. However, there are also phases in which you don’t feel well and which are already a sign of a mental illness. The transition is fluid, but there is a big difference between “I’m not feeling so well right now” and depression. In both cases it is good to get support. The difference is that depression is a mental illness that, just like a broken leg, needs treatment to get better.

Just talking about being depressed often makes it difficult to know for yourself when you need support. We try to provide a little clarity about when you are talking about a depressive episode, i.e. an illness.

Depression – What is it?

Depression or a depressive episode is a mental illness in which the mood is depressed. It can also be combined with anxiety. Many people imagine that depression means that they can only lie in bed and feel totally sad. But the illness has different faces for everyone. What are common symptoms, i.e. quasi characteristics?

Symptoms of a depressive episode

Common characteristics

• Depressed mood: You just feel sad, not in a good mood, nothing really interests you.
• Listlessness: You can’t get up the nerve to do anything.
• A markedly diminished interest in friends and family
• Little self-confidence
• Strong feelings of guilt
• Feelings of helplessness
• The feeling of being worthless
• restlessness, difficulty sleeping
• Lack of energy
• Concentration problems
• No appetite
• Frequent crying or becoming angry and irritable quickly. This is also referred to as having a low frustration tolerance.
• Suicidal thoughts

As I said, all of us feel sad for a while and don’t feel like doing anything. Support is important and helpful here. But it is not a disease and you can get out of these phases without treatment. One speaks of a depressive episode when several of these characteristics can be observed almost daily for weeks. It also makes a difference whether nice events still influence your mood or whether, no matter what the day was like or what you experience, you can no longer get out of this mood.

Depending on the severity, there are different types of depressive episodes. In the case of a mild episode, the person concerned is still able to perform and, for example, to go to school or to an apprenticeship. Even friends can often still be met.

The more severe the illness, the more symptoms can occur. At some point you can hardly or not at all manage to do everyday things or you feel so helpless, you have the feeling that you no longer know yourself. Sufferers are often accused of taking the easy way out. But that has nothing to do with it. The disease simply makes certain things impossible. With a broken leg, you can’t just keep walking if you “pull yourself together”. Depression is also an illness that can be managed with treatment.

Depression in adolescents

In the past, it was assumed that only adults could develop this mental illness. Today, however, we know that children and adolescents are also affected. It is even more difficult to distinguish between someone who is not feeling well and someone who is suffering from depression.

Because the illness often manifests itself a little differently in young people. Everyone shows different symptoms. One characteristic alone is not sufficient for a diagnosis, even in adolescence. However, if several of the characteristics listed below apply, you should at least consult an expert.

• Sadness without being able to identify a reason for it oneself
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Difficulties at school
• Feelings of guilt
• Constant feeling of hopelessness (“It doesn’t matter anyway!”)
• Recurrent thoughts of suicide
• Feeling worthless
• Problems falling asleep or sleeping through the night
• Changed appetite
• Problems concentrating
• Self-harm (e.g. scratching)
• The feeling of having no strength
• Feeling helpless
• Very risky behavior
• Feeling like you hate yourself
• Not enjoying things that used to give you pleasure

Affected yourself?

Do you recognise yourself in the descriptions or do you feel that this applies to friends of yours? We are always here to listen. You can get in touch anonymously. Maybe there are adults in your circle that you trust?

Get support, because depression can be treated very well. But it doesn’t just go away. It needs treatment, just like when you break your arm. The sooner you get support, the better you can be helped. Many people report that they didn’t dare talk to anyone about it for a long time. But now they are totally relieved. Many also say that with the treatment they finally feel like themselves again.

Treatment is always adapted to the person. Basically, depression can be treated with psychotherapy or clinical-psychological treatment and/or with medication (antidepressants). In mild depressive phases, preparations of St. John’s wort can also be effective.

It is incredibly important to turn to doctors, therapists or psychologists who specialise in working with young people. They have a lot of experience with how depressive episodes manifest themselves in adolescents. They also know which specific treatment is right for young people. Because what helps an adult does not necessarily help a young person!

There are also so many stories around medication for mental illness. Of course, like all medicines, they can have side effects. It’s OK to be concerned and to want to know exactly how they work and what the side effects are. Or even how long it takes to feel an effect. It is important to ask all questions you have to the doctor treating you. Often it is also a way to find a treatment that really suits you. You can say everything you think and want clearly. There are also many doctors who suggest herbal alternatives together with therapy, especially for mild depressive episodes.

When we break our leg, what it needs to heal is usually not what we want. Who voluntarily wants an operation or a plaster cast. Despite this, we often let ourselves be helped more easily with physical things. There are also many celebrities and influencers who suffer from mental illness. They often tell how much treatment has helped them to feel like themselves again. Maybe their story can take away some of your fears.

Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists can determine whether you might be suffering from a depressive episode. Dare to tell your parents if you don’t feel comfortable with a doctor, a psychologist or a therapist! You need a relationship of trust between you!

Depressive mood

It is important for us to make it clear that depression is a disease. You cannot simply make it go away with a little effort or a few tips. Like any other illness, it needs professional treatment.

However, if you have a depressive mood, i.e. a time when you are not feeling so well or there is a clear cause that is bothering you, there are a few things you can do to make yourself feel better again. Or also so that you get a little more strength again. Maybe you realise that he’s not doing you any good right now. Maybe all the lockdown restrictions are too much for you? There are also super nice moments, but somehow you’re running out of steam?

There are a few things you can do to make your psyche feel better again.

Light – Make sure you go outside every day. Even if the sun is not shining, the amount of daylight outside is many times greater than inside. Light plays an essential role in how your psyche feels.

Sport and exercise – Especially when we do sport, our body’s own happiness hormones are released, which can help us with low moods.

Relaxation – Taking quiet breaks is incredibly important. Lie on your bed and listen to music that brings you down and relaxes you or even manages to put you in a nice mood. You might also like to try specific breathing exercises or listen to a fantasy journey on YouTube.

Nutrition – a balanced diet actually has a positive effect on the psyche. Everything is allowed, it’s the mix that counts. It’s perfectly okay to eat sugar, for example. Eating almost exclusively sweets can have a negative effect on your mood.

Social contacts – Talking to people who are very close to you is a very important balance. Think about who you can honestly tell how you are feeling. Often you can support each other and share what helps each other. A walk outside with someone important to you combines three areas that can do you good. Movement, light and social contact.

Sleep-wake rhythm – going to bed and getting up at the same time regularly helps keep your psyche in balance. Sure, you can sleep in on weekends. If you find that you are constantly going to bed at completely different times, this can have an impact on how you feel.

For further help and support  — Speak with a licensed therapist today.