Overcoming Teenage Depression: Help In Changing Seasons
Recogonize the symptoms
October and November bring a change of seasons, which is a beautiful experience for some and challenging for others. As we experience fewer hours of daylight, many people feel more tired and even depressed. While depression can look different in each person, some common feelings experienced by people feeling depressed include:
- Irritability
- Lack of interest in activities that used to be enjoyable
- Hopelessness
- Fatigue and/or sleep disturbances
- Anxiety
- Feeling worthless
- Difficulty focusing
- Suicidal thoughts
- Headaches or back pain unrelated to other causes
Understand the symptoms
It’s important to understand that sometimes these symptoms are fleeting or situational, while other times they last for months. When they are ongoing and interfere with one’s ability to enjoy life, it’s time to take action. Actions might include:
- Ensuring that your bedtime and wake up time is similar each day
- Exercising 3-5 days weekly
- Eating a healthy diet low in sugar
- Listen to upbeat music
- Pet or play with animals (our students enjoyed puppy time for emotional support last week!)
- Utilizing a blue light aimed diagonally at one’s face, first thing in the morning starting at 20 minutes and working up to 40 minutes via 5-minute increments
- Talking to a someone you trust
- Counseling
- Seeking help from your doctor
- Contacting a suicide chat line or hotline to send messages to get help from a trained person 1-800-273-8255
Credit: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356007
At Hillcrest Academy,
the School Counselor offers confidential individual and small group counseling. Due to the impact of a teen suicide that affected our students in the last month, we had the opportunity to bring in puppies for emotional support last week. The Hillcrest Academy School Counselor also assists with referrals to outside therapists, has a lending library of fidget items to assist students with anxiety and focus, and prays with students for healing.
Learn more about Hillcrest Academy and how your teen can thrive in high school.
Download our 5 Important Questions to Ask Before You Choose a High School and schedule a visit today.
