Facts About Coping With Depression

Importance of Depression Coping Skills

Depression is one of the most common forms of mental health distress in the United States. It affects approximately 3.8% of the population in any given year and is sometimes called the “common cold” of mental illness. Due to its prevalence, ensuring healthy coping skills is vital to managing depression long-term. When they need those skills later on, individuals may not have them and sink even deeper into depression.

Why Do People Experience Depression?

There are many reasons someone might experience depression. For young people, depression may be due to trauma, environmental stressors, and/or naturally occurring brain chemistry. Oftentimes, depression is a natural response to a stressful situation such as the death of a loved one, a family divorce, or even a lack of Vitamin D.

For some individuals, the “feel good” or “happy” chemicals such as serotonin or dopamine may be out of balance in their brain naturally.

Facts About Depression Among Teens and Adults

Stemming from the Latin deprimere or ‘press down,’ depression is often described as a feeling of emotional weight, loss of passion, or light. It can come in many forms, and last for varied lengths of time. Grief, perinatal or psychotic depression, seasonal affective disorder, and bipolar disorder are different types.

In teens and young adults, life and hormonal transitions can intensify symptoms and make it difficult to identify them as depression. But a 2023 study indicates that 18.1% of teens aged 12-17 experienced at least one major episode in the past year. As many as 13.5% of this age group also experienced severe impairment as a result.

Depression can be challenging due to unpleasant experiences that can occur daily. If left untreated, the disorder can prompt some people to end their lives. The suicide rate among young people aged 10-24 increased by 62% from 2007 to 2021. This number has tripled from 2007 to 2018 and is the second leading cause of death for this age group, as of 2021.

Identifying Depression Symptoms

Sometimes symptoms of depression can last for more than 2 years (dysthymia). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an individual can qualify as “depressed” if they experience some of the following symptoms for more than two weeks:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
• Decreased energy or fatigue
• Moving or talking more slowly
• Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight changes
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Mental Health and Substance Abuse: Coping by Self-Medicating

Some people “self-medicate,” or attempt to alleviate the unpleasant depressive symptoms, with substances. Drugs like marijuana, alcoholic drinks, and others can flood the brain with feel-good chemicals momentarily, only to increase the brain’s desire for them and decrease its natural ability to create and access them later.

This can increase substance dependency and make the depression worse. As an individual becomes dependent on the substance to feel good, their stress to get it can increase. As they lean on a substance to cope, they may also miss the opportunity to develop healthy coping skills like reaching out to friends and family, exercising, or practicing self-care. Both cases can worsen depression.

Fighting Depression: Drug Treatment and Recovery

Fortunately, depression is an illness with a variety of therapies and medications used in treatment. Psychotherapy, mindfulness practices, and some prescription drugs can ease and/or heal depression.

If you or your loved one is struggling with diagnosed depression, or suffering from the above symptoms on an ongoing basis, seek support. Your troubled teen may not need only substance support, but depression treatment as well. At Sandstone Care, we can help guide you or your teen through tailored support to encourage lasting recovery.