Depression
Teenage depression is not something you can face alone. The stats are staggering—one out of every ten teens has been diagnosed with some form of depressive disorder. Mental illness does not discriminate. It doesn’t care about your background, your race, or your gender. It can affect anyone.
Trying to carry the weight of depression by yourself may feel brave, but it’s not sustainable. When you’re lost in your own pain, you need someone who isn’t tangled in it—someone who can see clearly and help guide you out.
Help Is Available
It’s okay to ask for help.
Feeling sad sometimes is completely normal. Fear of new situations, anxiety attacks, and emotional pain are all real. But clinical depression is more than sadness—it lasts longer, runs deeper, and can affect every part of your life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing overwhelming sadness, hopelessness, or emotional numbness, reach out. You don’t have to do this alone.
🆘 Crisis Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
💬 Online Support: medhelp.org | reachout.com
These resources allow you to get support anonymously if that feels safer.
What Depression May Look Like
Depression doesn’t always look the same for everyone. Here are some signs to watch out for:
-
Persistent sadness or numbness
-
Anxiety or panic attacks
-
Sudden bursts of anger or irritability
-
Drop in grades or loss of interest in school
-
Neglecting hygiene or personal appearance
-
Dramatic changes in eating or sleeping patterns
If you recognize any of these signs in yourself or someone else—don’t ignore them.
Cyberbullying and Social Media Pressure
Cyberbullying is a major contributor to teenage depression today. Online hate, exclusion, and shaming can cut deeply. You may feel isolated, judged, or misunderstood—but you’re not alone.
It’s not weak to ask for help.
Therapy is not a failure.
Speaking up is not shameful.
Build a Support Network
A true friend will stand by you—even when you’re silent. Keep people in your life who lift you up when you can’t do it yourself.
What you can do right now:
-
Create a personal safety plan or diary.
-
Write down emergency hotline numbers.
-
Keep a list of trusted people or websites you can reach out to.
-
Save the names of those who’ve helped you—you might need them again.
Final Thoughts
Depression lies. It tells you that you’re alone, unworthy, and broken. But none of that is true.
You are not alone. You are not beyond help.
There are people who care and want to listen. Take that first step. Text. Call. Speak.
You never know how much lighter things can feel until you finally let someone in.
I don’t have kids yet but my mom raised us to be very close…it’s something I hope to pass down…very nice post.
just what I needed to read today. This hasn’t been the best summer with my kids. I’m not going to beat myself up, just do things differently for the fall.
I love how you remind us as parents to live in the present moment with our kids and that quote from Barbara Walters really spoke to my heart and even made me cry a little. I love my tots and I hope they grow up with a firm knowledge of that.
Lauren, I think that your kids will be ok because you have the knowledge to know the difference.
This is such a great post. I’m guilty of not living in the present moment often. Sometimes, I’m dwelling in the past, and sometimes I’m worrying about the future. You are so right that we need to be present for our children. Thank you.
When the children become teens, they tend to drift apart from their family. It is very important for us parents to be always there for our children. Be there for them and enjoy the moment.
This is a great post.
My daughter has a severe traumatic brain injury and she has memory and behavioral problems (along with just being globally delayed cognitively and physically) and I work on the premise that “Every day is a new day” and what happened yesterday doesn’t matter because it is a new day and we live for each day.
Jaime, We all should look at life this way…thanks for your support.
People who hold on to the past find it difficult to progress in life. It’s really something that we should leave, let go of, and move on from.
Thanks for sharing this article. Made me think a lot of things.
Being outside can do wonders at any age, can’t it? There’s just something about nature that perks up a downtrodden spirit.
I agree with you, past is past we need to move on from the past. Love this article.
You are right it is easy to focus on what happened in the past. Kids are our future, we need to focus our energy on them and not on something we can
t change.
Depression can be so hard to overcome- for parents and children. Love your encouragement here!
What an inspirational post! I try to take the best every day and spend as much time as possible with my family. Unfortunately sometimes I have to spend all day away from home and can’t see my daughter, but I usually try to make it up the next day.
Ave, It’s the quality time your daughter remember not quantity.
I have held on to things from the past before, so I get it, but you are spot on when you say that we need to live in the today!
Yes! Quality over quantity!!
I’m all about living in the present! Unfortunately not everyone around me is the same! It can be pretty draining when people focus on the past :-/
You are so right. It is better not to focus on the past. Treasuring the present with our children is much more fulfilling.
Now that my kids are grown, I have learned that hind sight is 20/20. I’m very grateful
In my old age I have learned to live in the present. I value every single day as if it were my last. I know the value of learning from the past, and doing my best not to repeat it.
Making sure your kids are happy is such an important component of raising a child, but many parents unfortunately do not realize that, and their kids suffer because of it.
Sicorra@NotNowMomsBusy, So sad for the children thanks for your support.
what great inspiration 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing!
If we all could remember Kahlil Gibran’s message that we are guardians of the children we bring into the world – things might be easier for most parents. Thanks for a nice post.
What an awesome post! I seriously needed to read this today. Thanks!
I so agree that we need to soak up life and enjoy all it has to offer while we can!
Today was the first day of school for two of my children. I was so happy to see them happy when I picked them up today. I have worked hard to nurture and love them and make them feel special. I think it has made them grow into self assured kids who have confidence.
Stephanie, Good job that is all the kids need. Someone to care for them….Quality time an important key to happy children.
Spending time with my son and creating good memories is all I need to get me over the past and looking towards the future with hope!
So true we need to let go of the past so we can live fully in the present. Thank you.
Today is a gift. That is why is it called the present.
My son started in home therapy for development delays at age 2. I can’t tell you how many times the therapists would tell me other parents would go in another room or even SLEEP, while my boyfriend and I made sure we knew what was happening and how to do therapy at home. So sad that some people just don’t see the big picture with their kids.
I love reading your post, in the other part i have realize those things
Great reminder to live in the present. It is easy to focus on good times passed or things you want to fix but dwelling is never good.
My kids are always my main focus, it’s why I became a freelancer and stay-at-home mom.
I agree. The past is great to learn from but we have to live in the present.
This is indeed an amazing post and great advice for all. It is so important that we live for the now. The past is set in stone but the future is not. Living for the moment is the only way to insure you are actually living. This is only my opinion. Thanks for sharing.
Great advice. Family first always. I’m always wary of things that might try to come between me and my precious kids.
As siblings do, we went about our own lives. Thinking there would be time for get-togethers. Upon losing our lil sis, we found we needed the love and constant support of our loved ones.
Great advice!!!
I like your blog. Very educational information. I had a traumatic childhood and I suffered from a lot of depression and PTSD. This affected my parenting but I got help and now focus on staying positive for myself and for my kids. I write about it in my blog. Thanks for sharing! Visiting from #weekendbloghop