Depression

Although not widely publicized, it is not uncommon for a high school student to be attending class day after day with signs of depression. Depression may strike at nearly any age, which is why parents of high school students need to know the signs and symptoms of depression.

The biggest hurdle parents, and many teachers, have in believing in high school depression is that they don’t see how a student who seems to have so few worries in life could possibly be depressed. What must be kept in mind is that people of any age may be affected by any level of stress, no matter how small it may seem to others. As well, when brain chemicals themselves are out-of-whack, from any number of situations, symptoms of depression may result.

Teachers usually know their students very well, through powers of observation, but many are not trained to deal with depression in high school students. ADHD kids, slow learners, the discipline problems or brilliant learners are the more common types of ‘out of the ordinary’ students dealt with in high school. Depression is less common although most teachers can tell when one of their students is having some kind of problem. Of course a student suffering from depression may also have teachers that are not interested in resolving those kinds of problems.

Depression in a student in class can manifest itself as apathy. A student who never seems to understand the lessons or never seems to pay attention may be suffering from depression. High school depression can render a student incapable of concentrating on any one thing at a time, as the doom and loneliness of depression takes over their thinking. These students do not deliberately try to ignore the teacher or try not to pay attention. It is just that the depression is overwhelming.

Depression can also manifest itself in students as shyness or false attempts to make friends. Many depressed students will do what ever they can to make temporary friends, including using drugs, smoking and alcohol. Some will join multiple sports in order to be in with certain clicks or to make an attempt to ignore their shyness. It is common for students with depression to be either quiet or very serious types who seem to have few emotions.

Teachers who know they have students suffering from depression usually respond in one of two ways. They may ignore the student’s problems and just assume they are a typical apathetic high schooler, or they may approach the student to have one-on-one conversations. To have a personal conversation is a risky endeavor for any teacher because of the student-teacher line we all hear about. Still, some teachers may attempt a conversation about the depression to get a better idea if that is indeed what the student is suffering from.

For the student with symptoms of depression, a comfortable classroom, where the teacher has spoken to them, is a much happier classroom. Having a verbal relationship with your teacher who is aware of your depression problems will speed recovery and convince most depressed high school students that school can be a positive experience.

Students dealing with depression should not be ignored by the teacher. It will be important to keep the mind of a depressed student active, interested in school and comforted, as they recover from the very real problem of depression. A caring teacher that helps a depressed student be more successful in homework or classroom activities will increase the chances that the student will get over the depression quickly.

Symptoms of depression in a high school student can’t be expected to clear up overnight, but they can be dealt with in a certain fashion that will help in the recovery. Depressed students view school as a negative place they must go to daily. It does not have to be that way once both the teacher and the student realize that symptoms of depression are real but curable for most students.

Mark D. Jordan is a long-time researcher and writer from Pennsylvania. Other useful depression and health information can be read at Depression Relief and Cures and Anxiety Problems

Depression

Monika Nigam

Introduction:

Human nature varies throughout the world. The perception and understanding of the situation by an individual depends upon diverse issues. Grasping and tackling these matters require intellect and prior experiences, but occasionally situation turn out to be beyond the controls and this leads to hopelessness, despair and anguish called depression. The condition if ignored becomes devastating. Depression is severe medical condition that engrosses the body, mood and thoughts. It can affect person’s outlook, routine activities, behaviour and conduct. It can change the overall personality. Individual(s) with such illness cannot simply “put themselves together” and get better

Reasons that sow the seed of depression:

In this competitive epoch and demanding life, stress cannot be evaded. Every single person is striving to meet the challenges and prove one’s worth; unable to do so germinates the seed of depression. As a result, depression is becoming prevalent, affecting 1 in 8 people in a population. It is irrespective of colour, caste, creed, economy, age etc; studies show that it affects females more than males. It is a multifactorial condition, contributed by genetics, environment, events in life, socio-economic reasons, any medical condition(s) and the reaction of an individual to situation

Genetics: Some individual get this in their inheritance although it doesn’t always hold true as some individuals even though they receive in their genes, show no signs of the same while others despite of no family history show severe symptoms of depression.

Environment: the phenotypic characteristics of an individual are the implications of environment. Reaction to a particular situation and taking hold on the same not only demands intelligent but also exposure that environment provides.

Life events: the demise of a close member either in a family or a friend or separation of parents, changing school of kids all these can be the contributing factors for depression.

Family and Social Environment: the family atmosphere is the vital part of life, after facing the stress outside; the cosy, comfortable and motivating atmosphere puts together all the lost energy to face out all the defies. Any compromised living condition like poverty, homelessness and violence, may affect the self-esteem of a person and can build up the situation of depression.

Medical Conditions: Numerous medical conditions, especially that affecting hormone balance and alter mood can cause depression e.g. hypothyroidism. Treatment of these medical conditions relieves depression. At teens hormonal changes affect the school performance and cause depression.

How the brain responds to depression:

Brain is a complex network of nerve cells. The message between these nerve cells is communicated by the chemicals called neurotransmitters. Some of these neurotransmitters regulate mood and their decreased or inhibited level (or interruption of anatomical pathways in brain or as a consequence of treatment with certain drugs) bring anxiety, stress and depression. In such cases depression may be referred as an organic mood disorder. Balance of neurotransmitters is affected by stress.

Organic Affective Disorder: These are the diseases that may cause affective disorders by direct action on the brain.

1.Neurological: Cerebrovascular disease, Cerebral tumour, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s

disease, Huntington’s chorea, Alzheimer’s disease, Epilepsy.

2.Endocrine: Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome, Addison’s disease,

Hyperparathyroidism.

3. Infections: Glandular fever, Herpes simplex, Brucellosis, Typhoid, Toxoplasmosis.

4. Connective tissue disease: Systemic lupus erythematosus

5. Malignant disease

6. Drugs: Reserpine, Phenothiazines, Phenylbutazone, Corticosteroids, oral contraceptives,

Interferon

7. Organic cause for Psychiatric Disorder

Types of Depression: three main depressive disorders are-

Major Depression: also called as major depressive disorder (MDD). One of the major reasons for suicide and disability is depression. The result could be either due to medical illness or due to unexplained symptoms. The day-to-day activities are affected especially the capability to work, sleep, eat and take pleasure in any kind of entertainment. It can occur only once but is episodic. Chronic condition may necessitate indefinite treatment. Dysthymia: also called as dysthymic disorder. It could be enduring, though not disabling but protect the proper functioning and to sense good. Individuals suffering from Dysthymia may also experience major depressive disorders during their lives. Bipolar disorder: also called as maniac-depressive illness. The major symptoms are cycling mood changes like a wave. There could be severe highs called as mania and lows called as depression, flanked by intermittent normal mood. When the individual is in depressed mood then it depicts all the symptoms of depression on the contrary when in the manic cycle, the individual may be overactive, overwhelming with energy, over- talkative. It is because of this behaviour the thinking ability, judgement for a particular situation and also social deeds are badly influenced. This brings serious inconveniences and embarrassment.

Symptoms of Depression: There is a disparity in the symptoms among the individuals and also there is a discrepancy between the sexes. Depression is present in quarter to half of all medical patients (Davidson’s principle and Practice of Medicine). They can be categorized as:

Psychological

Importunate sad, worried or empty mood Reduced self-esteem Feeling of hopeless, pessimism Feeling of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed (anhedonia) Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts

Somatic

Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down” Difficulty concentrating, remembering and making decisions Trouble sleeping, early morning awakening or over sleeping Appetite and /or weight changes Restlessness, retardation and irritability Persistent headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain that do not respond to routine treatment. Loss of libido Bowel disturbance

Management & Treatment: Depression is treatable. First step is realization (find out patient’s concerns and also provide an appropriate explanation and reassurance) and physical examination to prevent the onset of other symptoms. Secondly, a differential diagnosis is important as depression is outcome of adverse circumstances in vulnerable persons. The imperative part is differentiation of an adjustment disorder with depressed mood from depressive disorder. Adjustment disorders are transient reactions to adversity. Whereas, depressive disorders are characterised by more severe and persistent mood disturbance.

Medication and short-term psychotherapies including “talking” therapies are effective for the treatment of depression. Severe and recurrent conditions of illness require a combination of treatment for best outcome. The treatment may have to be continued once a person starts feeling better.

Depression has some correlation with the ageing; it could be implicated with the illness, loss of memory and forgetfulness, feeling lonely or may be other psychological reasons. The psychotherapy of the patients and creating positivity in them help them to come out of depression and suicidal tendency.

It is my personal experience that if the factors causing depression in the person are not reminded to him rather reminding all the positive things what he has and what he is worth for brings lost confidence and zeal to live a great life! The close members’ understanding plays a very crucial role, as constant feeding of positivity and maintaining a joyful and encouraging atmosphere can keep the patient away from depression and suicidal thoughts and he will understand the significance he has in others life and how important he is for the society!

Monika Nigam

Depression Symptoms in High School Classes