Depressive Stages

• Reactive Depression

This is the depression that you would get as a reaction to an external event, such as failing in exams, death of a close relative, a love affair gone awry, divorce, loss of a job, etc.

Reactive depression is easy to understand, and usually lasts for a limited duration. With time, the intensity becomes less and slowly, with the help of logic and rationalisation, you would accept the situation and come back to normalcy.

Some may need medication or psychological counselling to get over the episode of depression. However, this type of depression usually does not have long term implications.

• Endogenous Depression

This is a result of chemical imbalance in the brain. Enzymes and neuro-transmitters, which are responsible for keeping the mood elevated, are reduced to such an extent, leading to disordered emotions and thinking.

The episodes of depression are not related to external circumstances although these may act as triggers or precipitating causes.

Look Out For

The key symptoms of depression are:

• General lack of interest
• Lack of personal grooming and care
• Episodes of crying, without any apparent reason
• Loss of interest in hobbies, friends, pets, studies job and social occasions
• Apathy to other people's problems
• Sleeplessness and loss of appetite
• Suicidal tendencies
• Unwanted fears, phobias, guilt and misconceptions.
• Irritations, memory loss, short temper, and difficulty in concentration
• Restlessness and extreme fatigue
• Increased dependence on smoking, drugs or alcohol

If your teen displays at least five of these symptoms for longer than two weeks, it can be indicative of a depressive disorder.

Risk Factors for Teenage Depression

While most teenagers have some form of depressive disorder, there are a few factors which make some more prone to depression. These are:

• Family history of depression
• Families with estrangement and divorce
• History of neglect and child abuse
• Children who are under severe stress
• Teens with chronic illnesses like diabetes or epilepsy
• Teens who have history of drug and alcohol abuse
• Post traumatic stress disorder, where the child is a victim or a man made or natural disasters