Why So Sad?

Why So Sad?

Looking around on Tumblr recently, I noticed a great deal of gloom in many of the posts left by teenagers. I know teens are supposed to be moody and occasionally melancholy, but some of these kids seemed depressed, and it concerned me. Teen depression is a serious problem that affects every facet of a teen’s life. Teen depression can lead to drug and alcohol abuse, self-mutilation, violence and even suicide.

According to suicide.org, a teen takes his or her life every hour and a half. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24. Approximately 20 percent of teens experience depression before they reach adulthood, and between 10 to 15 percent suffer from symptoms at any given time. Why is there more despair and hopelessness among teens today? I wish I knew the answer.

One thing that surprised me is that only 30 percent of depressed teens are being treated for it. Are parents, teachers and friends not realizing that these kids are depressed?

Important things to know:

➢ A teenage girl is twice as likely to suffer from depression than a boy.
➢ Teens that are abused, neglected or bullied are at risk.
➢ Young people who experienced trauma or disruptions at home, including divorce and deaths of loved ones, are also more likely to develop depression.

If a teen you know shows signs of sadness and hopelessness, he or she may be depressed.
Here are some red flags, visible warning signs that can help you detect if a teen in your life is depressed.

If a young person . . .
➢ has unexplained aches and pains
➢ is sluggish
➢ doesn’t care about their appearance
➢ cries easily
➢ is very angry, irritable and frustrates easily
➢ talks about death and suicide (even jokingly)
…it’s time to wake up! You have a problem on your hands.

Depression can be easily treated, but first you have to understand that there’s a problem, and sometimes teens don’t know how to let you know. They’re counting on you to notice. So if you interact with teenagers, please pay attention. You could save a life.

Below are posts written by teens on Tumblr:

“My whole life is falling apart and no one cares about it.”

“It’s not fair! Instead of crying when I start to panic I get angry now. So freaking angry, and the stupidest shit triggers it. So now I’m the bad guy and I messed everything up again.”

“I’m so fucking done with looking like this! I’m going to fast 2 or 3 days a week and on the other days I’m going to eat 600 calories or less and do the 30 Day Challenge and the 30 Day Ab Challenge, and I’m going to start running 4 miles. I will lose this weight before Christmas. I don’t care what it takes as long as I won’t be called fat anymore.”

“I’m literally so shitty someone could easily replace me. Anyway, who gives a fuck?”

“Yesssss! I hate school. Life sucks! One more day of humiliating myself.”

“When you can only calm yourself by forcing yourself to think of the absolute worst thing that can happen to you, over and over, you know something is wrong with you.”

“Can I live inside Tumblr? : ( My real life sucks and I hate it.”

“I hate being alive so much. It’s one problem after the next and no one has any sympathy for me.”

“I’m a mountain that has been moved.

I’m a river that is all dried up.

I’m an ocean nothing floats on.
I’m sky that nothing wants to fly in.
I’m a sun that doesn’t burn hot.
I’m a moon that never shows it’s face.
I’m a mouth that doesn’t smile.
I’m a word that no one wants to say.”

“Me: You wanna hear a joke?
 Me: my life.
 Me: *laughs at my shitty life until I breakdown crying.”

If there is a teen in your life suffering from depression get medical help immediately. Click here for a helpful link.