Teenage Depression: What Parents Need to Know

What is depression? 

According to the World Health Organization, depression is “a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration,”
 
It is but normal for some teenagers to feel sad or anxious, but if these emotions don't pass within a few days, it might be something more serious. Depression, if untreated and begins to interfere with day-to-day activities, can't be disregarded. In the DSM V Manual, a major depressive disorder (MDD) is considered as a medical illness that affects how one feels, thinks, and behaves, causing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Depression can actually lead to a variety of emotional and even physical problems and requires long term treatment.
 
Is your teenager suffering from depression? Mayo Clinic lists some warning signs for all parents to be aware of.

• Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
• Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Agitation or restlessness
• Angry outbursts
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
• Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixation on past failures, or self-blame when things aren't going right
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
• Crying spells for no apparent reason
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

What can you do to help your teenage child cope with depression?

While it's still best to seek professional help, but as a parent, let your child know that you're there to make him or her feel better. Some things that you can do:

1. Participate in enjoyable activities.  Encourage your teenage child to get involved in activities that he or she enjoys.  That helps him or her shift focus away from negative thoughts. Physical activity is always helpful. 

2. Seek social support. Encourage your teenage child to meet people his or her age and within his or her circle. Cousins, friends, church group, and school mates can can be a great source of support.

Read more at Natasha Goulbourn Foundation

Job Hunting 101 for Recent Graduates

Job Hunting Tip # 1. Know what you want.

Don't apply to every job announcement that you see. Employers see this as a cue that applicant lacks focus, goal, and ambition. Applying for a variety of positions in several industries shows that one  doesn't really know what career direction he wants.

Ask yourself first - what am I passionate about? If you know deep in your heart what it is, then you're ready to begin the search. You have to prove to your potential employer that you're serious in your career plans and believe that getting into their industry or company is just the break that you need to kick start your career.

Job Hunting Tip # 2. Network. 

While you have that sense of pride and independence and would want to market yourself by being who you are, be humble enough to accept any act of kindness from the people you know. These are your former professors, alumni group, could be a distant relative, or just your friendly hair dresser. They must care for you and that's why they even bother to tell you of any opportunity that might be worth looking at. After all, we're all interdependent. You still have to prove your worth and qualifications in order to win a job offer and not because of who you know.

Job Hunting Tip # 3. Keep Busy. 

It might take a while before you find that elusive dream job. But take this opportunity to sharpen your skills or even learn a new one. If you've been wanting to join an advocacy group or be involved in community work, this is the right time. You get to do what you've always wanted to do while again building on your network. You can't always be staying at home or otherwise get too busy tinkering on the computer and sending your resume online. Go out and attend seminars or workshops organized by your university, professional association, and even by your church group.

We're actually very impressed with candidates who value professional development and by those who keep themselves productive. You don't even have a lot of explaining to do for a few months of unemployment that we usually notice on the application form if you can tell your interviewer, without batting an eyelash, how you kept yourself busy while waiting for interview invitations. 

What is positive psychology?

Most people would think of psychology as a science that is focused on understanding dysfunctional behavior of people with mental illness and those with psychological problems. 

Positive Psychology is relatively a new term that simply pertains to the study of happiness. It is a new field in psychology that examines how the common tao or normal people can be helped out to live a happier and more fulfilled life.