Teen Depression

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was dx'd with clinical depression at 12---it was v clearly a chemical imbalance, no environmental factors. It took five meds to find the right one, and several bad therapists before we found one that works. It's always going to be there, I'll probably always be on meds, but it's manageable.

I don't think you understand "enviornmental" factors. Everyone has them. It's a long process to learn which ones weren't positive.

I had a happy childhood and a very supportive family, no history of abuse or PTSD or anything. But thanks for telling me about my own mental health, I totally appreciate the insight from a random anonymous stranger on the internet.

Good thing you isolated your bad luck gene.
Incredible that the family you inherited the illness from, was perfect in every way.
Truly amazing!

I'm not saying they were perfect, but that my issue was obviously a genetic mutation and not situational. Blaming families for medical conditions doesn't help the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

It's so unfortunate that you feel this is about "blaming". It's about learning the truth. There is no perfect parenting. Not your parents. Not my parents. And certainly not me.

Let's just be honest. We all could have been better.
If only we knew.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was dx'd with clinical depression at 12---it was v clearly a chemical imbalance, no environmental factors. It took five meds to find the right one, and several bad therapists before we found one that works. It's always going to be there, I'll probably always be on meds, but it's manageable.

I don't think you understand "enviornmental" factors. Everyone has them. It's a long process to learn which ones weren't positive.

I had a happy childhood and a very supportive family, no history of abuse or PTSD or anything. But thanks for telling me about my own mental health, I totally appreciate the insight from a random anonymous stranger on the internet.

Good thing you isolated your bad luck gene.
Incredible that the family you inherited the illness from, was perfect in every way.
Truly amazing!

I'm not saying they were perfect, but that my issue was obviously a genetic mutation and not situational. Blaming families for medical conditions doesn't help the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

It's so unfortunate that you feel this is about "blaming". It's about learning the truth. There is no perfect parenting. Not your parents. Not my parents. And certainly not me.

Let's just be honest. We all could have been better.
If only we knew.

Um, the truth about depression is that it can be caused by a chemical imbalance you nutjob.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hate this idea that something must be wrong in a family if a child has depression. Most kids with depression come from loving, stable homes. My DC had serious depression. I've had serious depression. There's obviously something genetic going on here.

+1 Our family has depression. Pretty much everyone. They are also very successful, stay married, keep their jobs, raise their kids, stay out of trouble with the law and so on. But the depression keeps coming, generation after generation. There are some studies that show that depressed people are often very successful -- they work to keep busy. we are thankful for advances in medications. "The brain is an organ, subject to disease like any other organ"

Your tale is a lie. You can't have a family full of depressed people, yet each one is a fantastic success. Nice try, troll.

PP, you are completely ignorant. That's like saying you can't have a family of alcoholics who are successful! I can show you plenty of alcoholics who are extremely successful, financially and otherwise. Yes, in time, the alcoholism catches up with them, and they have other issues, or health problems, but financial success, marital success, staying out of trouble, etc., can coincide with illness, mental or otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was dx'd with clinical depression at 12---it was v clearly a chemical imbalance, no environmental factors. It took five meds to find the right one, and several bad therapists before we found one that works. It's always going to be there, I'll probably always be on meds, but it's manageable.

I don't think you understand "enviornmental" factors. Everyone has them. It's a long process to learn which ones weren't positive.

I had a happy childhood and a very supportive family, no history of abuse or PTSD or anything. But thanks for telling me about my own mental health, I totally appreciate the insight from a random anonymous stranger on the internet.

Good thing you isolated your bad luck gene.
Incredible that the family you inherited the illness from, was perfect in every way.
Truly amazing!

I'm not saying they were perfect, but that my issue was obviously a genetic mutation and not situational. Blaming families for medical conditions doesn't help the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

It's so unfortunate that you feel this is about "blaming". It's about learning the truth. There is no perfect parenting. Not your parents. Not my parents. And certainly not me.

Let's just be honest. We all could have been better.
If only we knew.

Um, the truth about depression is that it can be caused by a chemical imbalance you nutjob.

+1

PP needs to know more about depression. It causes cognitive distortion, so you can start with a physical illness (depression triggered by hormonal changes, for example), but then to attach the physical illness to causes that are unrelated (marital problems, financial problems, hangnails, etc.) and decide the illness is caused by these ordinary things. Every human being has problems of one sort or another, some large, some small, most in the middle, but there's no avoiding them, and most problems do not cause depression. (Some people go through horrific experiences and end up without depression or mental illness.) The cause and effect of depression is not clear because as I mentioned, depression causes cognitive distortion, ie your thinking and rational understanding of your experiences becomes distorted by your depression, and you begin to blame what is a chemical issue in your brain on external issues (like your husband or your job or your kids), which all of us have to one degree or another.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a teenage daughter (now 17) who was sexually assaulted at 15. Diagnosed with PTSD.
Therapy and meds, but depression is overwhelming.
Some days better than others. Some days are so awful it's unimaginable.

I am so sorry, PP. Hugs to you and your daughter. You will both get through this, but it must be very very hard. Try new drugs, new therapists, if need be. Help is available, and you will find the combination that will allow you both to function and get through this.

[Anonymous]

My Harvard-educated OB/GYN killed herself a few months after having a baby. She was extremely high functioning and very successful. No on in her office knew she was being treated for bipolar disease, and certainly none of her patients did. She even sent me to see a therapist when I was upset by some problems with my pregnancy, so she knew all about mental illness. Yet she ended her life, a hugely successful life -- two small children, great thriving practice, respect of her colleagues, etc. She was a very cheerful, upbeat, high energy person, the very last person you'd ever suspect was suffering from depression. I miss her to this day and wish I'd known and that someone or some drug therapy had been able to save her. The story was that she was off her meds so she could breastfeed her infant. A terrible tragedy. You never know who is suffering from depression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you spot depression in a teenaged girl? My DD is a terribly moody thing, with an occasional crying fit, but it's fairly rare. I do have a family history of depression, so I'm worried, but I don't want to label her when maybe it's just teenage girl stuff. She's quite cheerful and happy much of the time, but suddenly will turn on a dime when something doesn't go her way (she didn't like the chicken last night, so sulked through dinner, then perked up and played with the dog after dinner). Other moms have told similar tales about their teenaged daughters, but others say theirs are not as moody as mine. What's the red flag? She has lots of friends, does well in school, we do lots of things together as a family, but have had some financial stress due to DH getting laid off recently (he found a job, thank God). I'd say our family has a normal amount of stress, but what worries me is the family history of depression. I've told DD about it, and asked her to tell me if anything's wrong, but there's never much of anything, and I don't see warning signs of drug/alcohol use, all of her friends are nice kids. Am I just a too anxious mom? Not worried, just wary and watching.

I also think it sounds quite normal. I had depression as a teen, and I just wasn't really there ... not motivated, wound't have shown signs of happiness - just didn't really feel anything. The fact that she's cheerful and happy much of the time is really positive and would make me not worry too much.

Thank you for posting this. I think she's OK, but with a family history of depression, I just never know if it will come out of the blue! In my case (in response to pps), my childhood depression was caused directly by family circumstances, plus I think there is a genetic link as well. DH comes from a crazy dysfunctional family with a history of depression too, but he's never been depressed. He gets down and unhappy now and then by life circumstances, but he's never cloaked with despair.

To the PP who mentions environment: I do think "environment" includes chemicals in the food, the home and workplace, hormones, as well as family friction, trauma, etc. Any of these can be a trigger for a genetic predisposition to depression. But I don't know if a gene for depression has been identified -- anyone know? It might help parents feel less guilt when their children suddenly become depressed for no obvious reason (trauma, for example). And might make it easier to pinpoint the chemical or other environmental trigger that causes the depression.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really hate this idea that something must be wrong in a family if a child has depression. Most kids with depression come from loving, stable homes. My DC had serious depression. I've had serious depression. There's obviously something genetic going on here.

+1 Our family has depression. Pretty much everyone. They are also very successful, stay married, keep their jobs, raise their kids, stay out of trouble with the law and so on. But the depression keeps coming, generation after generation. There are some studies that show that depressed people are often very successful -- they work to keep busy. we are thankful for advances in medications. "The brain is an organ, subject to disease like any other organ"

Your tale is a lie. You can't have a family full of depressed people, yet each one is a fantastic success. Nice try, troll.

I actually dont agree. Depression does not mean that you cant hold a job, have kids, dont get arrested, dont become an alcoholic, etc. You can manage life and still be depressed. Its not enjoyable, but you can hold it together and still keep your life going. I know plenty of people like that. I dont find this poster's experience in her family at all unusual.

I said you can't have a family full of depressed people,
And
Each one be a fantastic success.

That's NOT just having a job and kids.

Who do you think you're kidding?

Okay...but Anyone with depression that is controlled can easily be successful. If everyone in a family has depression and the family recognizes and controls it, sure, they could have productive, successful lives. Everyone in the family? Maybe, maybe not. But in ANY family, what are the chances that every single person is "wildly successful"? And what's your definition of success, anyway? "The world according to you"?
I'm not sure i quite understand the point of your posts, other than to simply post something controversial sounding because you are bored.
Or maybe depressed.

The poster tells what she means by "successful". Didn't you read it? Married, keeps job, etc.
Just read it yourself, please.

Please take your angry posts elsewhere. Start your own thread about success or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was dx'd with clinical depression at 12---it was v clearly a chemical imbalance, no environmental factors. It took five meds to find the right one, and several bad therapists before we found one that works. It's always going to be there, I'll probably always be on meds, but it's manageable.

I don't think you understand "enviornmental" factors. Everyone has them. It's a long process to learn which ones weren't positive.

I had a happy childhood and a very supportive family, no history of abuse or PTSD or anything. But thanks for telling me about my own mental health, I totally appreciate the insight from a random anonymous stranger on the internet.

Good thing you isolated your bad luck gene.
Incredible that the family you inherited the illness from, was perfect in every way.
Truly amazing!

I'm not saying they were perfect, but that my issue was obviously a genetic mutation and not situational. Blaming families for medical conditions doesn't help the stigma that surrounds mental illness.

It's so unfortunate that you feel this is about "blaming". It's about learning the truth. There is no perfect parenting. Not your parents. Not my parents. And certainly not me.

Let's just be honest. We all could have been better.
If only we knew.

Um, the truth about depression is that it can be caused by a chemical imbalance you nutjob.

+1

PP needs to know more about depression. It causes cognitive distortion, so you can start with a physical illness (depression triggered by hormonal changes, for example), but then to attach the physical illness to causes that are unrelated (marital problems, financial problems, hangnails, etc.) and decide the illness is caused by these ordinary things. Every human being has problems of one sort or another, some large, some small, most in the middle, but there's no avoiding them, and most problems do not cause depression. (Some people go through horrific experiences and end up without depression or mental illness.) The cause and effect of depression is not clear because as I mentioned, depression causes cognitive distortion, ie your thinking and rational understanding of your experiences becomes distorted by your depression, and you begin to blame what is a chemical issue in your brain on external issues (like your husband or your job or your kids), which all of us have to one degree or another.

Excellent explanation.

[Anonymous]

I reported some of PP's most insulting posts and they've been removed. When a poster engages in name calling and insults, its just better to report the posts rather than engage in an extended attempt to try to persuade them (or insult them back). Once you cross that line you shouldn't be part of the conversation. Doesn't mean you can't disagree, but it can be done without name calling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I reported some of PP's most insulting posts and they've been removed. When a poster engages in name calling and insults, its just better to report the posts rather than engage in an extended attempt to try to persuade them (or insult them back). Once you cross that line you shouldn't be part of the conversation. Doesn't mean you can't disagree, but it can be done without name calling.

Good to hear that name calling posters on DCUM will now be removed. Thank you. Sounds like an exhausting task.

[Anonymous]

Depression is an illness. And there is a big difference between being a little down and having a clinical depression. There are over 6 million Americans taking Prozac alone not to mention other anti depressants, so it could be called a rather common illness, by numbers. It is possible to be depressed and live a successful life, although it would be better to treat the depression if you can.
A teen with depression is both frightening and complicated. It is hard to tell how depressed they are and what direction depression will take them. To parents of depressed teens, you have your work cut out, and I feel very sad for you. It is hard to watch a teen suffer from clinical depression. Teens do not always sit back and say "this will pass" unfortunately. Best of luck to all who are struggling through this. Be kind.

[Anonymous]

Just reading the last page, it's hard to believe this is the "clean" version. I'm sorry that posters who shared their painful stories came under personal attack.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just reading the last page, it's hard to believe this is the "clean" version. I'm sorry that posters who shared their painful stories came under personal attack.

Which post?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was dx'd with clinical depression at 12---it was v clearly a chemical imbalance, no environmental factors. It took five meds to find the right one, and several bad therapists before we found one that works. It's always going to be there, I'll probably always be on meds, but it's manageable.

I don't think you understand "enviornmental" factors. Everyone has them. It's a long process to learn which ones weren't positive.

Maybe this is a perceived attack.