If you feel like your life has been in a funk lately, again, just hang in there. There is always help. Depression can be treated. Seek help. Reach out to friends and family. There are health professionals in school who are always available to help.

Here are some signs that you may be suffering from symptoms of depression (1):

– Negativity in your thinking and behavior
– The need to become withdrawn from everyone and isolating yourself
– Sleeping excessively and not eating
– Complaints of pains, including headaches, stomachaches, low back pain, or fatigue
– Difficulty concentrating
– Difficulty making decisions
– Excessive or inappropriate guilt
– Irresponsible behavior for example, forgetting obligations, being late for classes, skipping school
– Loss of interest in food or compulsive overeating that results in rapid weight loss or gain
– Memory loss
– Preoccupation with death and dying
– Rebellious behavior
– Sadness, anxiety, or a feeling of hopelessness
– Staying awake at night and sleeping during the day
– Sudden drop in grades
– Use of alcohol or drugs and promiscuous sexual activity
– Withdrawal from friends and family

There are a variety of ways to treat depression. The important thing is make sure to reach out to someone. You will be surprised that a lot of people will be willing to help: family, friends, teachers, or health professionals. There is nothing wrong with seeking help.

Just take the first step. Just reach out now. Again, there is always someone willing to help. Sunshine is just around the corner.

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What does it mean to be a teenager?

As a teen, you may feel being treated like a child at times but expected to act like adults. You’re not quite a child and not quite an adult. So, what are you? Confused right?

As a teen you want to explore, experiment and try new things. Do you feel a lot more expectations thrown at you? Overwhelmed? Anxious?

Let’s face it, everything that’s causing your anxiety as a teenager can directly and indirectly be linked to you being a teenager. To be a teenager means having all sorts of unexpected changes that can be difficult to deal with.

Do you want to know what’s causing your anxiety?

Teen anxiety is a very normal phase in a teenagers life. It’s an inevitable stage. You just have to learn how to recognize it, handle it and manage it.

If you’re feeling lost, get help. Talk to someone. Reach out to your friends and family. Life experiences, the environment, genetics, hormones, body changes, mood swings, peer pressure, social expectations, parent issues and many other factors can all trigger anxiety.

Teen anxiety is normal. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Don’t let your feeling of anxiety eat you up. Just cut yourself some slack and live life as it comes.

If you feel that you need help, reach out and talk to someone. Seek professional help if needed. There are people out there who are willing to help.

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Did you know that there has been a dramatic rise in depression among teen girls? With teenage girls more frequently and intensely using their smartphones and social media than boys, this makes girls more susceptible to cyberbullying. (1)

The stress of being cyberbullied can sometimes feel overwhelming. It makes it difficult for you to feel safe as it appears to be very invasive even in the privacy of your own home as they appear on your laptop, tablet, or smartphone.

Here are some common feelings cyberbullied teens and tweens often experience: (2)

– Feeling overwhelmed.
– Feeling vulnerable and powerless.
– Feeling exposed and humiliated.
– Feeling dissatisfied with who they are.
– Feeling angry and vengeful.
– Feeling disinterested in life.
– Feeling alone and isolated.
– Feeling disinterested in school.
– Feeling anxious and depressed.
– Feeling ill.
– Feeling suicidal.

To a victim, it feels like the bullying is everywhere. Additionally, because the bullies can remain anonymous, this can escalate feelings of fear.

Dealing with anxiety, fear, and depression as a result of cyberbullying may be difficult for some teens. However, do not despair. You will be surprised how a lot of people are willing to help you.

Talk with your parents. Talk with friends. If you are not comfortable talking with them, there are health professionals and organizations who are willing to help and listen to you.

Many have recovered from depression brought about by cyberbullying. If others were able to overcome it, so can you.

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You are not alone. In fact, 20% of teenagers tend to experience some form of depression before reaching adulthood. A large part of these are young girls. (1)

Here are some common depression symptoms that you should be aware of (2):

– Feelings of sadness, which can include crying spells for no apparent reason
– Feeling hopeless or empty
– Irritable or annoyed mood
– Frustration or feelings of anger, even over small matters
– Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
– Fixation on past failures or exaggerated self-blame or self-criticism
– Extreme sensitivity to rejection or failure, and the need for excessive reassurance
– Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
– Ongoing sense that life and the future are grim and bleak
– Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
– Loss of interest in, or conflict with, family and friends
– Low self-esteem
– Decreased appetite and weight loss, or increased cravings for food and weight gain
– Use of alcohol or drugs
– Social isolation
– Poor school performance or frequent absences from school
– Neglected appearance
– Self-harm — for example, cutting, burning, or excessive piercing or tattooing
– Making a suicide plan or a suicide attempt
– Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide

If you think this is you and these symptoms persists, seek help.

There are healthcare professionals and organizations who are openly willing to help. Reach out to family, friends, or school counselors. It’s the right thing to do. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Someone out there is willing to help and listen to you.

Just reach out now and life will be better.

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Bullying happens when a group of people pick on someone over and over for the purpose of humiliating someone who they deem to be unfit to be part of their group.

Bullying comes in different forms:

– Physical bullying. This is when someone attempts to physically harm you to instill fear or coerce you to doing something.
– Verbal bullying. This is when someone uses demeaning language to belittle you and humiliate you in front of others.
– Emotional bullying. This is when someone tries to make you feel isolated and alone.
– Cyberbullying. This form of bullying has increasingly become a major problem among teens. This is when someone uses social media, videos, text messages, or instant messaging to embarrass and humiliate you.

If you believe that you are being bullied, there ways for you to fight back and help discourage bullying:

– Tell a trusted adult. This can be your parents, school counselor, coach, teacher, or any school official. They can often resolve dangerous bullying problems without the bully ever learning how they found out about it.

– Seek friends who are supportive and kind. Stay with friends if possible since bullies usually single out those who are alone.

– Practice confidence. Practice ways to respond to the bully verbally or through your actions. Show them that their bullying does not affect you.

– Talk about it. Talk to your parents, a guidance counselor, a teacher, or friend. Talking is a good outlet for your fears and frustrations.

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