How do I deal with depression?

Question

I am 14 years old and go to a great high school. I play three sports well, and have some bad, good, and great friends. My parents are divorced and have been for a while. Right now I'm having some problems and I don't know how to cope with them. Nothing I do makes me happy. 24/7 I'm just depressed, and at school I never even smile. I come home and just sit on my bed and do nothing, or go on the computer and surf the web. My grades are going down because I don't do homework, and I've lost friendships because I'm always "so depressing". What the hell can I do?

Answer 1

Hey sometimes life can get like that. i am a 16 year old girl who has seen a lot of hard times in the lives of a lot of kids. and i can understand how hard it much be, especially after your parents going through a divorce, that can be extremely tough and no kid should ever have to go through that. but as hard as it is just keep your head up! as much as live is full of bad things there are lots of good things also. try to focus on positive things, this might sound strange to you, but above all Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life He loves you so much He died for you in your place to cover for all your sin, and wants the best for you, He will make you someone Great if you'll let him. Satin also has a plan for you he wants you dead he hates you and is the cause of all the hear ache in this world, and the last thing he wants for you is to see you strong in God and becoming some one great! don't let him stop you!

Answer 2

I'm 13 and I go to a stellar high school. I used to have a problem like yours. I was a happy person, then BAM, I was crying constantly. I felt so depressed. The thing is, I didn't take meds. I couldn't take life anymore. What I did was so much more easier.

Want to know what it was? I got a guinea pig. Yeah, yeah, I know it sounds dumb, but I found that the little guys really had unique and beautiful personalities that really calm the inner soul. Never again have I cried as much.

If you want to get a guinea pig, get it while it is 3-4 weeks old and is so small, it could be mistaken with an adult hamster. At this age, they don't have a personality yet, so with nurturing & love (which you'll find will be easy to give because they will love you so much-you'll be able to cry to them, and they will give you a look of understanding) they will have a trusting personality and will love you forever. That will make you feel great.

Guinea pigs will always listen, and it's like they really understand. It's just this look in their eye. Since they don't get big like a cat and they are easy to keep care of, they are awesome for relieving depression.

If that doesn't work, yes, you should go to a doctor and find medications that work.

I hope that helps

-Lakota West Firebirds

Answer 3

am going to summarize everything that I know about depression. You are not alone, there is thousand of people around the world that suffer from anxiety and depression. Getting professional help is a good idea, so you can be seriously diagnose and treated. Nowadays there is medicines that help. Depression and anxiety are caused by an imbalance in brain neurotrasmiters. Meds help to get these neurotrasmiters balanced. It takes a little time. Ask the doctor about Cymbalta or Prozac. You do not have to let anxiety or depression affect your life.
However you should also do activities that complement medicines, for example Yoga is EXCELLENT for depression and also acupuncture. There is also natural pills like St john´s wort if your depression is not so strong. It is so important that you talk with your doctor or a good friend about your childhood, adolescence and actual life to find the root of the problem. What is bothering you that is causing the depression and anxiety. If you follow these steps you will be so much better. [e-mail]

Answer 4

Your young yet, so medicine might not be the answer, but with everything thats going on in your life maybe your feeling alot of pressure and stress. I've read some peoples suggestions, I agree that you replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts. Get a little animal, something cool is a bearded dragon, very cool and they really count on contact from their owners. But anyone who has depression it needs to be discussed with a therapist, and not just about being sad all the time, but what is going on in your life.
I know it has to have been hard for you your parents getting divorced, losing friendships and you maybe questioning alot about who you are and what your doing wrong, its hard at that age, I remember. But really open up to a therapist, and if you can't afford one, then a best friend. Hang in there because people do care.

Answer 5

instead of coming home and sitting around, look into seeing a school counsellor and telling the counsellor about how you are feeling. sometimes just being able to talk to someone can make you feel better. also, start getting out and exercizing (i.e. go for a walk, go to a park that has an exercize course and do the course, join a gym, walk the mall with a friend that you feel at ease with, etc., as you see there are a lot of things that you can do to fill your day up. and that is what you need to do. oh, and get back to doing that homework, because knowledge is the best thing to help anyone change whatever needs changed.

Answer 6

Hiya a lot of the answers above me have some good advice in them. I am doing the same thing. I am very slow about just moving form one side of the room to the other. I feel exhausted from this and yes my grades are going right down. I should be working on something and its taking all the energy just to get on with something. Before I was the complete opposite, always on top of my work and one step ahead with tasks.

Now I spend to long thinking about something and its always on my mind. The only distraction I have is tv or a game or anything that is unrelated to the main problem. I feel frozen by everything coming on this thing helps because i know i am not the only one and that i am normal. We spend so much time covering it up either laughing and smiling in public and collasping in a heap of tears in the dark where no one can see us.

I believe that it may be the problems you are having that you may be using up all your energy on thinking about and that wears you out because their may not seem at the moment to be a answer or solution to it.

I was confident and brave six months ago. Then i just woke up and it was like someone stole my skin and everyhing started to hurt and be bruised. Listen to the guys who are giving you health and advice. I am booking in for some conseling at college soon, i am realy scared to open up and talk about to a stranger, and i am a lot older than you. Your brave to come up here and post your question.

I just wanted you to know that others out their are going through simliar stuff and we are here down with you trying to fight are way back.

good luck with the problem

Answer 7

When I was around your age and in High School I went through a period when I became really depressed, lost interest in everything and my grades began to plummet. Honestly, I wouldn't recommend going on antidepressants because I've had a bad experience with them myself, and in the end, the way I overcame the depression was to actually face, rationalize, and release the thoughts that were making me depressed. Exercising releases "feel good chemicals" into your brain (serotonin), and seratonin is what the antidepressants are mainly packed with, so you might as well get them naturally and avoid all the sideaffects that could come from the meds.

Also, start taking a daily multivitamin. Vitamin C, B6, and omega 3 oil are especially great for combating depression. Force yourself to take up hobbies that were once your favorites. For instance, play your favorite video game, and watch yourself get into it and forget about being depressed. Also, one of the things that helped me was to watch lots and lots of comedies. Go to youtube.come and type in "Borat" and have a great time laughing your bum off with his hilarious show. Watch other comics - laughter is a natural medicine and will release more feel good chemicals into your body. Try to spend more time in the sun - the sun increases melatonin and serotonin, which are both great for depression. Try to get at least 8 hrs of sleep each day. Research has proven that not getting enough sleep can make depression worse, so get good sleep so you feel rested, and try not to go to bed past 12. By following the body's natural cycles will also improve your emotional health.

Drink water regularly to rid your body of toxins. And work out or at least walk for an hour a day. When you do physical activity which raises your heart beat, your body releases pent up adrenaline, which is a stress hormone, so the less of it you have in your body, the more calm and healthy your state of mind will be. Listen to music that makes you happy - this is very important; something that triggers good memories or makes you feel good, or something that makes you want to get up and dance. Even if you like angry, sad music, try to stay away from it until your depression goes away, because studies have shown that listening to sad and angry music will often times leave you feeling sad and angry, and that's something you definitely don't want when you're depressed. If you have things in your room which remind you of something that makes you sad, temporarily take it out of the room or hide it, so that you won't have those things reminding you of something negative and making you depressed. Take down posters which have negative images in them, put up a print of a calm photo of nature, or something else that will make you calm or happy. All these things have a profound effect, so do as much of them as you are comfortable with. Try to stay away from junk food, processed foods, sodas, candy, and other artificially processed foods, because they contain so many chemicals and additives which is bad for your body and can cause depression.

Try to eat healthier - more fruits and vegetables, and instead of an unhealthy snack, get some yogurt, or healthy cereal with organic soy milk, for instance. BTW regular milk is packed with hormones, so try to stay away from it cause hormones can really mess up your health. I was in your situation once and I remember how hopeless I felt, but I was able to get through it, so keep your head up high and have hope. I'm a walking example that depression can be overcome. BTW I haven't experienced depression eversince the time I overcame it, and it's been quite a few years. Don't lose hope! I know you can do it!

Answer 8

sounds just like me. you could think positive thoughts and find the good in everything, i know it sounds corny but it works for me! you could join some clubs and find people with the same interests as you and make new friends. and do your homework! :D hope you feel better!

Answer 9

i know the feeling. i'm here if you want to talk [e-mail]. try calling youthline 1800 246 4646.