#TeenSuicidePreventionWeek: The destructive powers of depression – a personal story
Teen depression often goes unnoticed, especially when parents, teachers and friends don’t know what to look out for. Not catching the medical condition in time, however, could be a fatal error.
Read this thought-provoking story shared by our sister site Alberton Record. (You might like to read the full article here.)
First things first
The stigma surrounding mental illness, unfortunately, still persists – and for too many sufferers it remains a source of intense shame. In light of this, I should make it known that I have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder; a medical condition that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
As hard as it was to come to grips with this fact, the diagnosis has changed my life. It allowed me an opportunity to seek professional help – and an opportunity to learn more about myself and how the condition affects my emotional well-being.
The warning signs were there
I can trace it back to my teens when, in grade nine, one of my many teachers noticed that a once outgoing young boy had methodically isolated himself, and that my academic performance had become the opposite of what it had been.
A lack of recognition and adequate treatment
In short, nothing interested me anymore. The teacher mentioned orchestrated a meeting with the school psychologist, and although we had several sessions together, no medication was ever prescribed. After a while, I simply started to dodge our appointments, I also stopped going to classes. My parents were unaware of my recurring depressive episodes, and saw my change in behaviour as a form of defiant rebelliousness; which in turn only worsened the condition as my home life deteriorated.
As the condition was never adequately dealt with, the cyclical depressive episodes deepened considerably, my self-esteem hitting new lows along with them. When it came to my early twenties, one of my lecturers made contact with a university councillor who then made contact with a psychiatrist.
A turning point eventually came
If only this had happened 12 years earlier, my life might have been very different.
There is hope, and there’s certainly help out there
Depression is not something to ignore, under any circumstance; the effects of an untreated medical condition could easily reverberate throughout one’s life, leaving a legacy of broken relationships, pervasive underachievement and a multitude of poor life decisions. The tragedy is that depression and bi-polarity are treatable, and that in 70-80* per cent of cases, the mixture of medication and therapy works wonders in helping a sufferer enjoy a happier and more productive life.
Know the warning signs, and act on them
If you suffer from any of the below symptoms, or know someone who does, please speak up. It could mean the difference between life and death.
To learn more, please see the South African Depression and Anxiety Group’s (SADAG) website for educational material on depression, bi-polar disorder and teen suicide prevention.
Symptoms of depression or a bi-polar depressive episode
- Loss of interest in things you like to do
- Sadness that won’t go away
- Irritability and feelings of anger
- Crying a lot / tearfulness
- Spending lots of time alone
- Eating too much or too little
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Having low energy or restless feelings
- Feeling tired a lot
- Feeling tense or worrying a lot (persistent anxiety)
- Missing school (or work), day dreaming a lot, underperforming at school or work.
SADAG helpline (8am – 8pm, 7 days a week): 0800 567 567, or SMS: 31393
*Figure as per SADAG Depressive Disorder literature available here.
