Comments

1. tracie_344 Said,

   lost apatite lost zest for life
   anti-soc. withdrawen from everone.
   and sleeps alot . hope this helps.
   there is med. for depresion. here
   are some.zoloft,paxel,prozac. those
   are some meds.thare are more.good luckReferences :

2. purple Said,

   changes in eating and sleeping habits (eating and sleeping too much or too little)
   significant weight gain or loss
   missed school, poor school performance and/or a sudden decline in 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
   feeling that nothing is worth the effort
   frequent health complaints when no physical ailment exists
   anger, rage, anxiety
   lack of enthusiasm and motivation
   drug/alcohol abuse, thoughts of death or suicide
   Symptoms such as insomnia, panic attacks, delusions or hallucinations can indicate extreme depression,
   The first problem is to distinguish between a more serious depression and "normal," typical adolescent moodiness, caused by hormonal changes and brain growth spurts. For example, it is common for girls to become moody, edgy, and anxious just before and during menstruation, and maybe even longer, if she suffers from hormonal problems. If grouchy behavior seems to have a pattern or cycle, it is likely the symptoms are tied to hormonal changes, and are not indicative of clinical depression. In contrast, one hallmark of clinical depression is the tendency to become isolated—to stop talking to family, and to stop spending time with friends—and this kind of moodiness does not seem to lift after a couple of weeks.

   Rushing to a therapist when symptoms are actually within the range of normal can have several negative effects:

   the child feels like there must be something wrong with himself or herself, which can tip a fragile balance toward lowered self-esteem
   there may be a long-lasting stigma attached to a diagnosis
   medications may be prescribed unnecessarily, and without careful monitoring
   If you suspect depression:

   Respond with love, kindness, and support.
   Repeatedly let your child know that you are there, whenever she or he needs you
   Be gentle but persistent if your adolescent shuts you out (depressed teenagers do not want to feel patronized or crowded). Do not ask a lot of questions, but make known your concern and your willingness to listen.
   Do not criticize or pass judgment once the adolescent begins to talk (the important thing is that he or she is talking and communicating feelings).
   Encourage activity and praise efforts to socialize and be active.
   Seek help from a doctor or mental health professional if the adolescent's depressed feeling doesn't pass with time. Be prepared to list behaviors, note how long and how often they have been occurring, and how severe they seem.
   Do not wait and hope that symptoms will go away on their own. When depression is severe—if adolescents are thinking about hurting themselves or about suicide—seek professional help as soon as possible.
   Parents of depressed adolescents may themselves need support. Seek out groups of parents who have experience with teen depression.
   The single most important thing a parent can do to break down the social isolation that is at the heart of adolescent problems is to LISTEN:

   listen when your children talk
   listen to their music
   spend more time with them and be involved in their activities
   take them to movies and concerts, and discuss them afterward
   know their friends, and listen to them as well
   do not lecture or offer unsolicited advice or ultimatums
   do not try to talk them out of their feelings or solve their problems, just acknowledge the pain and sadness they are feeling
   do not compare your teen’s feelings, reactions or experiences to your own or to someone else’s
   A parent can—and should—express their concerns directly. It is not easy to connect with teens in this way, and parents may need professional guidance to assist them. Yes, it is likely that the teenager will get angry and will say harsh things ("It's none of your business!" "Get out of my room!" "I hate you!"), but this kind of response is often an unintentional test to see if you are really able to help them. Depressed teenagers will seek answers to the following questions before confiding in an adult:

   Will you be able to handle my big feelings? (Often children will keep their feelings inside if they worry that their parents already have too much on their minds or are depressed themselves. If you yourself are experiencing depression or extreme stress, get your own help and support so that you can better help your child.)
   Can I trust you to hang in there with me, even when I act like this?
   Can I rely on you to be here for me and not to walk away or push me away?
   Will you provide a strong and safe place for me—walls that do not cave in even when I push them?
   Will you love me even when I don't know how to love myself or you?
   Parents who show their kids that disagreements and painful feelings can safely be expressed—and that they can be resolved—make it safe for their kids to open up to them. The sharing of confusion, sadness, loneliness, shame, and other strong emotions often decreases the intensity, and opens the way for real communication, which in turn reduces the isolation that is such a large part of depression.References :

3. mormon_chic Said,

   I myself have chemical depression and it runs in my family. I take Zoloft everyday and it works really well for me. Some symptoms in myself I noticed were:
   Removing myself from everyone around me
   Easily made mad
   Thoughts of suicide
   Thinking everything was my fault
   Thinking very negatively about myself
   Thoughts of running away
   Constant need to sleepReferences :