Teen Depression- how to solve it without adults?

Question

How do you overcome depression when you're a teen without going to an adult for help?
I know it's best to go to an adult for these kinds of things but that would ruin my friend's life even more. She doesn't see an end to it and feels that the only reason she's still alive is because it'd hurt others too much. She doesn't want to do anything fun, she feels like just sitting in her room by herself. It's hard to explain but the way I can is that she can FEEL the sadness sinking in her, taking over her life. What can we do? How can I help her get through this so I can see her happy again?
I'm thinking of research, what exactly should I look for?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and answers.

She's already had therapy.
Her parents use to take her, but after a while they gave up.

And nothing terrible or horrible or drastic has happened in her life.

Answer 1

The good news is it will pass in time. Around 17 it really started lifting for me. Try to get her to go outside and enjoy herself, hang out with friends, go to parties, etc... Any physical activity usually helps. Excercising is a big one. Or if she doesn't want to leave her room, bring things to her. Video games, get take out and watch a lot of movies. Just any activity besides sitting alone in the dark.

If she writes, try to hint that she write out all the thoughts before she goes to bed each night. They'll regroup but the more she does it the less intense it will get.

I think all forms of medication if you're under 18 need to be through your parents so that might be a last resort?

Bottom line is to keep the activity and physical focus up and the emotions out either written if she wants it private, or talking about it. And it will pass as the teen years progress, much like acne does.

Answer 2

Tell her to talk to an adult she trusts. She will probably have to see a doctor.

There are a few things she can do that may help.

Her music, is it all sad and down and out or the violence type of music?

Same with her other forms of entertainment.

If so she probably would feel better listening to something up beat.

I know this is not going to go over well, but a lot of the classics are soothing, and do not send negative messages.

Has something happened to her, like being a victim of a crime?

How about any drug and alcohol use? Those can contribute to depression.

Really, if she doesn't want you to spill the beans to her parents, then maybe you can be her moral support while she talks to them.

She really needs help, and being this is a medical/mental thing, her parents will have to find out.

In the mean time, just be her friend, if she becomes suicidal, get help ASAP, do not keep silent. If she is threatening others get help ASAP.

Depression can be treated and she can feel better, but she has to get the help she needs to get there.

Answer 3

Sounds to me
like you are trying to take on a larger and more complicated load than you are prepared to address.

Depression can come from a malfunctioning organ (like the thyroid) requiring medical testing and appropriate prescription medication.
It can be from a person's situation, high stress, feeling their problems are unsolveable.
It can come from guilt, whether the guilt is false or true.
It can come from grief.
Or it can be a chemical deficiency within the brain -- requiring a Dr.s supervision and possibly targeted medication.

If your friend is feeling or believing she wants to die, or to harm herself or another person -- Call 911 Get her the help she really needs NOW. Before it is too late.

If your friend were to die from this, you too, would be filled with guilt and depression. This is going to take the assistance of an adult. Seriously.

If what has happened to her gets an adult into trouble with the law - she needs to understand she is not to blame -- the adult is to blame, and needs to be stopped. People need to be able to live in safety, especially kids.

There is something you need to know about kids and teens.
Your brain, reasoning, perceptions and emotions are not yet fully developed, or fully matured. You don't know yet. The time will come when you do, but that is not this week or even this year. Adults, experienced, educated, mature really need to guide your friend to what is safe so she can get well.

Answer 4

Talk to her. Ask her whats bothering her. Do something drastic to show her that you care, that others care. Make her life better somehow, by doing something special for her.
But.. Honestly, you will hate this answer... get her help. Even if you're not telling her that you are. Even if you have to trick her. That sounds terribly mean, but its the truth. Depression can often be overcome by medication, and with maturity. If she takes medication for a while, There's a chance that she could turn her life around and have a better future. Bring her to psychiatric care, if she's thinking about suicide, especially.
If she won't go willingly, work it out with her parents. Get them to sign her in for care, and then take her there yourself, possibly not even telling her where you're going. It sounds mean, but its called tough love.
If that won't work, try getting an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist for yourself. Talk to them, ask them for advice, and they will hopefully have a much better answer than me. They're professionals, after all. If nothing else, i hope that's what you do. they will have an answer, i'm sure. She may not want to accept it, but getting help from people older than yourself is part of life, whether you like it or not. Thats just how the world works. Adults are more experienced, more knowledgeable, and they are truelly the ones you should talk to for advice about stuff like this. Even if you talk to your own parents, or hers, its something.
I sincerely hope this helps.

Answer 5

Sometimes the only way to get the ball rolling to end depression is prescribed medication. She needs to go to a doctor but getting her there is going to be one hell of a struggle. Do what you can to get her to a doctor, you don't know whether it's a medical problem that's triggered it. After a few weeks on the proper medication, she will be in a state of mind where she will be able to help herself to get back to some sense of normality. Depression isn't just about feeling depressed, depression is about a complete lack of motivation to do anything, a real detachment from surroundings and truly not in a well state to be making big decisions. You can't just get her smiling from time to time and think she is cured, it just doesn't work that way. Concentrate all your efforts in getting her to a doctor.... and good luck!

just to add...
Serena has a very valid point with exercise as 40 minutes of exercise a day is considered to be equal to one antidepressant pill, so maybe a nice walk every afternoon with her friends might be just the ticket she needs.

Answer 6

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 7

my life is pretty much of how ur friends is........ sometimes i dont see a point of living but you have to think of how others would miss you, just like you and her family would miss her.
im pretty depressed too and shes probably had something EXTREMELY terrible happen in her life and she cant stand it any longer. my family doesnt really believe me when they think im depressed but i dont completely blame them because they dont know my life, nobody really does. and i understand your friend, even i wouldnt want to go to therapy! its really embarassing and worse-it doesnt help too much it just makes you think of it more =[ so what you should do is really talk to your friend.but make it comfortable as best you can, dont say "Tell me whats bothering you" but try to be there for her like, "If you ever need to talk, need help, or anything, know that im here for you" cuz you are if you obviously care for her. try to talk to her about something that bothers her in small conversations but if you talk about this stuff too much, it wont help, she'll just keep thinking about it and cry. but most of all, be there for her and she'll no you're the reason she needs to live, because you helped her =]

i really hope you're friend gets out of depression! i really hate it too

Answer 8

The way all my friends who have had depression issues have fixed it is just by hanging out with friends all day. The way I've fixed it is finding friends who just.... never are unhappy it seems like. They're always happy and fun to be with. If you're around people like that, it starts to rub off, and you start being happy more often.

Answer 9

You might want to research B complex.

In clinical studies, they gave it to people in mental health hospitals. I think it was 75% of the patients were cured.

They gave it in fairly high doses though, if I remember right. 2000 Mg or so. (B complex is a water soluable vitamin, with no toxcity level.)

B complex also helps your hair and your nails grow, it gives energy, and helps memory function properly--among many other things.
.

Answer 10

Hey thats simple,
you keep her occupied the entire day that she will be too engaged to think bout the sad part of life. make her participate in these yahoo answers. get her to join some physical activities like dance or may be singing. music soothes her mind. she could find some real heart whelming answers in Gospel too. I could like go on and on with suggestions. KEEPING HER TIRINGLY BUSY IS THE BEST MEDICINE. IDLE MIND-DEVIL'S WORKSHOP.
Hoping I have been of help?