Always Learning: Teenage Depression

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Teenage Depression

Dr. Archibald Hart predicts that 100 per cent of teenagers will be on anti-depressants in ten years. He said that 30 years ago, when he became a clinical psychologist, the onset of depression in people who were going to battle with depression began around 45 years old. Today, the average onset is 14 years old and one in four teenagers are depressed!

He attributes this sky rocketing cause of depression to STRESS. Stress causes your body to pump out excess amounts of cortisol which shrinks the ability of the brain to learn. It also causes an inability to sleep which is vital for good health. It will then lead to irritability. It also blocks the part of your brain that allows one to feel a sense of peace. When they no longer have the ability to feel peace or to learn, they fall into deep depression.

When they sink into depression, they are usually put on antidepressants or other drugs in hopes of lowering cortisol levels in their bodies so they can start learning and feeling a sense of peace again. The problem with drugs is they often don't work and exasperate the problem. The side effects can be devastating.

No, I am not a doctor or psychologists, but common sense tells me our children are TOO busy! TOO much is expected from them. I never had to study in high school. I didn't study one minute for the SAT tests. College didn't cost an arm and a leg. Sports didn't control us. We had free time to relax and enjoy life.

My advice is to SLOW DOWN! Monitor your children's activities. Make sure they work hard and do everything to the best of their abilities, but let them have down time to relax ~ reading, playing games, enjoying outdoors, not hours of television and computer time.

I would also make sure their diet is healthy with good fats, healthy proteins, lots of organic fruits and vegetables, and fish oils which are crucial for a healthy brain. They need fresh air and sunshine. They need a good eight to ten hours of sleep a night, not five hours of homework. They need exercise.

Be armed with truth and ready for the battle. Don't let your children become a statistic!

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Hosea 4:6

Comments (33)

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Michelle · 688 weeks ago

I love this post! I am a teacher, and it drives me crazy to see the way my (very young) students are shuttled all over creation with no down time whatsoever. Their parents wonder why the have behavior problems, and I wonder how they can expect anything else! I literally pray that people will take notice. This is a trend that desperately needs to be reversed!!!

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AMY · 688 weeks ago

So TRUE!! Kids need to be kids! They are not mini adults and can not handle the stress that adults can. Kids deal with so much stress today. Kids today have too much on their plates, school, homework, sports, and other activites. Add the fact that they are totally plugged into computers, cell phone, social media sites, etc and the stress becomes crippling! My husband and I, took our daughters camping last summer. It was so wonderful to be free of phones, tv, computers, etc. I would love to see families take at least one day a week to unplug.

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Charity · 688 weeks ago

A huge thing that influences "happiness" and overall feeling well is levels of Omega fats in the body - if I had a child with depressive tendencies, I'd get them on GOOD Omega 3's stat.

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Joluise · 688 weeks ago

When my children were at school I was always arguing about homework. After a busy day at school the last thing any child needs to do is home work - they need to be relaxing, playing outside and having fun, not doing more school work. I don't take work from my job, so why do young children need to take work home. It has always really annoyed me and I can't understand the logic.

Yes, we do need to watch our children and teens - suicide is all too real.

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brittanygrim 24p · 688 weeks ago

Great post!

That is one of the several reasons we want to homeschool our children when they get to school age. My nephew goes to school at 7, and he doesn't get home until 6 and sometimes later becaue of the extra activities he's in. THEN, on top of that he has homework. It's outrageous to me. His parents then get onto him about how he's getting behind in school. What adult could handle that kind of schedule? I know I couldn't.

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Lea · 688 weeks ago

Visiting from MM and what a great, great post! Sounds like you and I were close to the same generation where we were not the "hurried child." This is so scary and I can't help but think about my precious 2 and 3 year old grandchildren and their future. Goodness! I pray daily for them and their Mom and Dad.

Great to meet you and I WILL be back and hope you'll stop by when you have a minute.
Blessings!

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Nellie · 688 weeks ago

Wow Lori,
I could not agree with you more. I see well meaning parents that have their children in every activity known to man everyday of the week, and I sometimes I say when do you ever see them??? They need some time with YOU!! They need to have a regular dinner time with the family, and get some much needed sleep, and have time to do nothing at all sometimes, just play in there rooms or read or even watch some wholesome TV, but I am definitely not an advocate of them spending lots of time in front of it or the computer, and
even proven that it is worse from children who are younger than kindergarten age.

Some parents want let their teenager sleep in on the weekends, because they fear they
will be lazy, and I understand their concern, but I disagree with that too, because it is also a documented fact, that because of their growth and hormonal changes they need even more sleep than normal.

Thanks for posting this, as it might just help some well meaning parents who really do
love their children stop and think and pray about what is right for their children.

Thanks for your comments you wrote about your son meeting Tim Tebows Mom.
That was neat, too bad, the game didn't go so well this week but that's okay, it is just
a game, and the Lord has plenty of other ways to gain glory. Maybe this will give Tim
a break and some time to go home and spend time with family as well.

Blessings, Nellie

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jenny · 688 weeks ago

Another insight-full post. I don't know how you do it!

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Raine · 688 weeks ago

I agree with this. I suffered from debilitating depression for years, sometimes with medication, sometimes with therapy, and sometimes with no outside treatment. The biggest help, long-term has been getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating more healthy, whole foods and less processed and fast food. Omega 3 supplements and Vitamin D both really help as well. but it seems like the answer now is to push medication first rather than suggest lifestyle changes and slowing down.

Of course, with teenagers, that's even harder. So many teens now are expected to go to school, hold a job, and do several hours of homework a night, which means staying up late and getting up early. On top of it all, most who want to go to college are playing sports or balancing several activities on top of it all just to have a chance at scholarships or more selective schools. I know so many young adults who were pushed so hard in high school and before that they totally burned out either in college or at the beginnings of their careers. You used to hear of "nervous breakdowns" with older people, but now it seems common to find 20-somethings in mental hospitals from issues linked to too much stress.

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Jessica · 688 weeks ago

Visiting from MM, I appreciate this post. I am in my 20's and struggled with depression all throughout my high school years. Working, sports, school & the attempt to find time with friends can be stressful instead of a learning experience.

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LeAnn · 688 weeks ago

I too am visiting from MM. Good advise! You don't think of things like good fats, but it does make a difference. I saw I show where they did a study on stressed taxi drivers. One group was told take in good fats and this group substantially changed their outlook on life in one month compared to the other groups. It was fascinating.

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shanda oakley · 688 weeks ago

I really appreciate this post. I think on my 21 year old sons and their problems began at the end of their high school years when the stress got too much. It coincided with returning to the US, dealing with a different culture and mentality, and the pressure they put on themselves for perfection.

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imperfect prose · 688 weeks ago

oh... this makes my heart break.

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brian miller · 688 weeks ago

nice...lots of truth in this one...i work with kids as well doing counseling with them and combat much of this often...

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Shell · 688 weeks ago

The stats really are sky rocketing. I think part of it is also from kids feeling like it's okay to be honest about how they are really feeling.

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Matthew · 688 weeks ago

As a youth minister, I would only add that its not just "downtime" but family time that is so crucial. Time with parents that is more than a scheduling meeting.

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cynD Smith · 688 weeks ago

Oh so true, I have a 23 year old in University and She right this moment is suffering. I pray and wish I had the right words to say.. Stress at school can be unrelenting, I am aways a way. I appreciate your posting on this matter. Depression really hurts alot.

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Amy · 687 weeks ago

Antidepressants don't lower cortisol levels , they increase the amount of the neurotransmitters serotonin and nor-epinephrine one or both depending on the drug.

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Angela · 681 weeks ago

I agree with the stress point, but I believe, as a mother of one that fall into this statistic, that the modes of media these days have a huge impact as well. Never before have our children had access to the types of media that are negative and damaging to their souls at their fingertips (literally). Whether it's music, tv, movies, chatrooms, computer access, and most importantly gaming. Almost every tech device that kids are using these days either have texting or internet access.

I agree with you that kids' plugged in time needs to be limited and to get them out and moving! Guard your home. Guard the hearts of your children.

Great article!

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Rocky Mountain Woman · 677 weeks ago

What does it say about our society that our children are depressed? Something certainly needs to change. How sad...

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Donna Heber · 677 weeks ago

Very informative post for our letter this week. I don't have children, but was surprised by the stats that the average age of onset is 14.

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Mumsy · 677 weeks ago

They are now required to do community service in order to get their high school diploma, on top of what you've mentioned here..It's sad that we are moving forward to a decline in health..

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Heather · 677 weeks ago

Wow! This is interesting and upsetting! That's scary about 14 year olds!

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Betty · 677 weeks ago

I think you're so right. I can't believe the schedules kids have today...everything is so structured. Dance lessons on Monday, Karate on Tuesday, etc. It seems like everything is competitive too. I saw that show Dance Moms and couldn't believe what I was seeing. It's so sad.

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sandy · 677 weeks ago

I'm so glad my children are older and out on their own
now.. I see some of the teens today showing signs
of being depressed,, they have too much, or not
enough love, stuff, games on the pc and tv is
hurting them... parents are not parenting and
giving them much too much freedom.
Did you know where the 'baggie pants' the teens
are wearing started, in the prisons.. yes, it was a
sign to let others know 'they were available'.. sick,
but when did it become a fashion statement with
the teens?? Why do parents let them out of the
house in them?
What happened to our kids?
Thankfully my house was the one all the
kids wanted to come to and I'm happy to
say my three are professionals today and
doing well with their kids...
Good post
Sandy

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