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Teenage Depression

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Teenage Depression, A Solution for Change
Nkosi Brown
November 3, 2014

Teenage Depression, A Solution for Change
As a mother of a teenager, I can relate to the importance of addressing mental health concerns that may arise in a timely fashion. Desiring to do everything I possibly can, to provide the best quality of life for my child. There are times when mental health issues go undiagnosed due to embarrassment about the condition or a lack of knowledge about the illness that may be affecting the individual. An increased awareness and education of the warning signs and triggers of depression have aided in an earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment of depression in teens.
Depression is an illness that is sometimes misunderstood. The average person without prior knowledge of the illness has a difficult time distinguishing an individual struggling with depression from someone who is merely going through a rough time or feeling down. Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary defines depression as “a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity” (Webster’s 2000).
Depression presents itself in various forms. Major, persistent depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are all types of diagnoses within the spectrum of depression. Major depression exhibits extreme symptoms, affecting an individual’s ability to function in everyday life. Traditional life functions such as sleep, school work and social interactions would be hindered. Persistent depressive disorder, or a depressive state that last longer than two years, is displayed in the forms of psychotic depression, which would include additional symptoms of delusions or hallucinations, postpartum depression, where hormonal changes within the body after giving birth, leads to a change in mood and demeanor. Or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), depression

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