The spectrum of teen depression

Feeling sad from time to time is normal for people of all ages. Feeling depressed is not. What's the difference? Sadness is an unpleasant emotion in response to certain events in our lives. Loss of a loved one or close friend, disappointment at missing a hoped-for opportunity, or struggling to adapt to sudden unwelcome changes, all result in sadness for most of us. Even seeing someone else experience these events in a movie can bring us to tears. Often, the tears, the grieving, the process of getting through the sadness bring relief. V,"e take some time to stop our daily routine, reflect on what has happened, cry, and gradually replenish our energy so we can carry on. This is a healthy process.

Depression is not healthy. Depressed mood, a major symptom of depression, occurs when sadness is partnered with a change in how we perceive ourselves and others. We tend to think less of ourselves than usual. We can't forgive ourselves the slightest mistake. We see others as cold and uncaring. We can't appreciate partial success, or see the silver lining in the cloud. We feel helpless and defeated. We can't imagine facing life's challenges and going on. In short, sadness repairs while de­pression impairs.

We shouldn't expect our children to be free from sadness. In fact, denying sadness or grief in ourselves or others can cause emotional problems. We should, how­ever, expect our children to be free from depression. The occasional down mood occurs in most teens. Ongoing depression does not. How, as a parent, can you tell the difference? In truth, there is no single test that will tell you. In part, this is because teens don't tell you everything that goes on in their minds. They shouldn't be ex­pected to. A certain amount of privacy is part of growing up and becoming your own person. In part, this is because there is a whole range or "spectrum" of experiences between uncomplicated sadness and clinical depression.

This blog discusses teens all the way along that spectrum. The approach de­scribed applies to any teen whose sadness is complicated by feelings of low self-worth, overly negative appraisals of events, helplessness, or hopelessness. In more severe cases, it serves as an adjunct to clinical treatments. In milder depressive states, it may allow you to get your teen back to a more average frame of mind, appropriate to his or her stage of development. Before discussing how to do this, however, let's examine some of the depressive states along the spectrum. Think about which one (or ones) might apply to your teen. In this chapter, we illustrate some of the more common, milder depressive conditions. In the next chapter, con­ditions on the more severe end of the spectrum (Dysthymic Disorder, Major Depres­sion, Bipolar Disorder) are discussed.



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