How Teens Deal With...

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Depression

Depression affects 1 in 8 teens in the U.S.

Many factors play a role in depression including genetics, environment, life events (such as the death of a family member or close friend), drugs and alcohol also play a major role.

I believe that Depression is very serious. It affects everything in your life. You don't want to do anything, you don't want to be with your friends, your family, no one, you just want to be alone. This can affect your social life very much. I'm not saying it's important to be popular but it is important to have friends. It also affects your life, a lot of teens that become severally depressed think about killing themselves or hurting themselves.

Many people don't recognize when a friend or even themselves are depressed. So, here are some signs and symptoms of depression:

• sadness, anxiety, or feeling of hopelessness
• loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight gain or loss
• staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
• withdrawal from friends
• rebellious behavior, sudden drop in grades or cutting school
• complaining of pains including headaches, stomachaches, low back pain or fatigue
• use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
• a preoccupation with death or dying

If any of you have any questions or concerns about yourself or someone you know please feel free to write and I will try to help as much as I can.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Holly Norris