Health

  Adolescent Depression

Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods. Adolescent Depression is a disorder that affects teenagers. It leads to sadness, discouragement, and a loss self-worth and interest in their usual activities. Depression can be a response to many situations and stresses. In teenagers, depressed mood is common because of:

        -the normal process of maturing and the stress that occurs with it and the  he influence of sex hormones

             - independence conflicts with parents

             - the death of a friend or relative

             - a breakup with a boyfriend or a girlfriend

        - failure a school

        - have low self-esteem

        - are very critical of themselves

        - feel little control over negative events

Many adolescents have anxiety disorders, attention deficit, bipolar disorder or eating disorders. That’s because they have been bullied or abused, or maybe they have long-term illness, or poor care giving.

Depression can change the way teenagers see themselves, their lives, and the people around them. Teenagers who are depressed usually see everything negatively. Their appetite changes, they have difficulty concentrating or making decisions. They maybe feel upset, restless or maybe irritable. They will lose the interest in activities that were fun and they will have trouble sleeping or maybe they will sleep a lot.  This can cause criminal or irresponsible behavior. Their grades will drop and they will fail in classes, and many more.

But wait! There are treatments and we can prevent this disorder. We can get a support care form a medical provider or we can talk to therapist. And we can possibly take, antidepressant medications (it depends the age).

Most teenagers feel down sometimes. Having support and good coping skills can help prevent these periods of sadness from leading to more severe depression. Talking openly with your teen can help identify depression early.

Make sure your teen gets professional help to deal with periods of a low mood. Identifying and treating depression early may prevent or delay episodes.

And remember; don’t get depressed over something that, by that moment, it was hurtful. 

Life is short and you have only one chance to be joyful and enjoying your life, only one chance. They’re plenty of ways to feel happy and get distracted from things that makes you sad. Don’t wish your life away. 

10 ways to keep your brain functioning

1. Dance. Dancing is a brain-power activity. Learning new moves activates brain motors centers that form new neural connections. Dancing also calms the brain's stress response.

2.Take your dog, or yourself, for a walk. Walking for just 20 minutes a day can lower blood sugar. That helps stoke blood flow to the brain, so you think more clearly.

3. Listen for details when a friend tells a story. Heed changes in a person's tone and register small facts you might otherwise gloss over. Conjure a mental image of the story. By doing this, you activate multiple areas in the brain and encourage memory formation.

4. Replace candy with a sweet pears, apples, oranges and cantaloupe. The combination prevents elevated blood sugar that could impede brain cells from firing correctly. It also provides fiber and antioxidants that help scrub plaque from brain arteries and mop up free radicals that inhibit clear thinking.

5. Take a food break. Research shows that people who fast one day a week or month unlock a unique form of blood glucose that helps the brain more efficiently transmit information. Then break your fast with brain-healthy blueberries, walnuts, and maybe a glass of red wine.

6. Redecorate and redesign your environment. Plant new flowers in front of your house. Redecorate your the kitchen. Rearrange your closets and drawers. Replace the candles in your living room with some that have a different scent. Making such changes can alter motor pathways in the brain and encourage new cell growth.

7. Sleep. Shut-eye isn't a luxury. It's when your brain consolidates memories. Poor sleep, cause by medical conditions, worry, depression, or insomnia, can interfere with your rest. So treat yourself to relaxing scents like vanilla before bed. They raise the chemical dopamine and reduce cortisol, a stress hormone.

8. Read the news. Keeping up with the latest not only activates the memory part of the brain but also gives you something to talk about with friends and family. That kind of socializing can activate multiple parts of your brain and encourage cell growth.

9. Turn off the TV and pick up an instrument. Frequently tickling the ivories or blowing a horn- especially if you're trying to master it- is asscociate with lower dementia risks. What's more, it eliminates boredom, a brain state that can cause some thinking skills to atrophy.

10. Join a book club. Pick up a good book to cut down on brain-withering boredom. Frequent reading is associated with reduced risk of dementia. And meeting new people forces new neutral connections. Besides, you might enjoy the book.