Is it normal to be depressed in high school

It also can cause fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite, headaches, and insomnia. People with depression often see the world in a negative light. They can be overly critical of themselves, and feel worthless and unloved. They may feel overwhelmed by small problems the rest of us take in stride. They feel like giving up. They pull away from people and drop out of activities, but this isolates them and makes them feel worse. Teens can face many difficulties they're ill-equipped to handle emotionally: divorce, learning disabilities, and abuse and neglect, to name a few.

By nature, they feel powerless against these situations, and the effects can remain with them well into adulthood. Even a teen who doesn't face any of these challenges can be depressed. An inherited tendency toward depression also can cause the problem.

Depression runs in families, but not everyone with a depressed family member becomes depressed. People with no family history of depression also can have depression. Besides life events and family history, other factors that play a role in causing depression include social environment, medical conditions, and negative thought patterns.

For teens, a stressful home environment or neighborhood poverty and violence can lead to depression. Whatever the causes of your depression, the following tips can help you overcome your symptoms, change how you feel, and regain your sense of hope and enthusiasm. However, you do have some control over feeling better. The first step is to ask for help. The truth is, parents hate to see their kids hurting.

Accepting your feelings and opening up about them with someone you trust will help you feel less alone. Even though it may not feel like it at the moment, people do love and care about you. If you can muster the courage to talk about your depression, it can—and will—be resolved. Some people think that talking about sad feelings will make them worse, but the opposite is almost always true.

It is very helpful to share your worries with someone who will listen and care about what you say. Depression causes many of us to withdraw into our shells. You may not feel like seeing anybody or doing anything and some days just getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult. But isolating yourself only makes depression worse. Spend time face-to-face with friends who make you feel good —especially those who are active, upbeat, and understanding.

Avoid hanging out with those who abuse drugs or alcohol, get you into trouble, or make you feel judged or insecure.

Get involved in activities you enjoy or used to. You might not feel motivated at first, but as you start to participate again, your mood and enthusiasm will begin to lift. Doing things for others is a powerful antidepressant and happiness booster. Cut back on your social media use. While it may seem that losing yourself online will temporarily ease depression symptoms, it can actually make you feel even worse. Comparing yourself unfavorably with your peers on social media , for example, only promotes feelings of depression and isolation.

Remember: people always exaggerate the positive aspects of their lives online, brushing over the doubts and disappointments that we all experience. Making healthy lifestyle choices can do wonders for your mood. Things like eating right, getting regular exercise, and getting enough sleep have been shown to make a huge difference when it comes to depression.

Get moving! You actually get a rush of endorphins from exercising, which makes you feel instantly happier. Physical activity can be as effective as medications or therapy for depression, so get involved in sports, ride your bike, or take a dance class. Any activity helps! Be smart about what you eat. An unhealthy diet can make you feel sluggish and tired, which worsens depression symptoms. Junk food , refined carbs, and sugary snacks are the worst culprits!

Talk to your parents, doctor, or school nurse about how to ensure your diet is adequately nutritious. Avoid alcohol and drugs.

However, as well as causing depression in the first place, substance use will only make depression worse in the long run. Alcohol and drug use can also increase suicidal feelings. Aim for eight hours of sleep each night. Feeling depressed as a teenager typically disrupts your sleep. But you can get on a better sleep schedule by adopting healthy sleep habits. For many teens, stress and anxiety can go hand-in-hand with depression.

Unrelenting stress, doubts, or fears can sap your emotional energy, affect your physical health, send your anxiety levels soaring, and trigger or exacerbate depression. Perhaps you endure intense anxiety attacks that strike without warning, get panicky at the thought of speaking in class, experience uncontrollable, intrusive thoughts, or live in a constant state of worry.

Check your symptoms, and find out what you can do if you think you might have depression. Find more resources to share on social media. Statistics NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States.

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