Covering Up Teen Depression
We try to cover it up all the time. We act like nothing is wrong. Each day, we lie to ourselves. We ignore the fact that life isn't what we want. We tell everyone, we're fine, that we're alright. We know everything isn't alright. We know we have bad thoughts, and sometimes we even act upon them. Adults try and pretend that depressed teenagers aren't real. They act like we don't exist so they can focus on “bigger issues.” As teen depression and suicide rates continue to climb, its a bigger issue than it has ever been. We can't continue to cover up teen depression and act like it doesn't exist.
Each day at school, we act more like soldiers than we do students. We are told what to think and do. We are told what to wear and how to feel. We have to put on that mask of happiness so others don't think anything is wrong. Why do we continue to lie to ourselves? Is society so backwards that we can't believe that being a teen is a very depressing thing? I don't care how popular you are or how high your grades are. Aren't all of us at least a little bit depressed? Childhood can seem like a prison sentence when you are a teen. I hear it all of the time. We just want to be grown up and be free from all of our parents’ silly rules. We have to understand what our lives are like if we are to understand the first rule of life, which is that life isn't fair. We need to, for lack of better words, stop pretending we aren't sad. Why? Because admittance is the first step to recovery.
The more we bottle up our emotions, the more likely we are to freak out. We might hurt ourselves or even worse. We aren't cutting because we think it's a fun thing to do. We want someone to notice it, because, dang it, we just want someone to care. Not everyone has parents like mine, and I'm sure you have something I don't. My parents are very open and are always ready to tell me the truth. They recount times of their early years and how unhappy they were. My mom says dad is the one who kept her alive, and dad says the same thing about her. Isn't that what friends are for? To keep each other alive in the nightmare we call life? Many don't have friends like them, and if you don't, it's okay to ask for a little extra help. Stop lying to yourself, because it's going to be okay.
I'm going to include a number for you to call if you need a little extra help with this stupid thing we call life. As always, I am Ameila Varner, the host of Get Help Now. I'm hoping that you can feel better and, maybe one day, smile. I'm sure that you have a smile as radiant as that soul you have inside that is begging for the happiness you've been denied. Here's that number:
1(800)852-8336
OPEN FROM 6PM TO 10PM PACIFIC TIME EVERY NIGHT
This is a number that is open for specific hours and can be called after hours for the suicide prevention line after hours. Remember, if you are on the east coast, subtract three hours for Pacific time, etc.
We try to cover it up all the time. We act like nothing is wrong. Each day, we lie to ourselves. We ignore the fact that life isn't what we want. We tell everyone, we're fine, that we're alright. We know everything isn't alright. We know we have bad thoughts, and sometimes we even act upon them. Adults try and pretend that depressed teenagers aren't real. They act like we don't exist so they can focus on “bigger issues.” As teen depression and suicide rates continue to climb, its a bigger issue than it has ever been. We can't continue to cover up teen depression and act like it doesn't exist.
Each day at school, we act more like soldiers than we do students. We are told what to think and do. We are told what to wear and how to feel. We have to put on that mask of happiness so others don't think anything is wrong. Why do we continue to lie to ourselves? Is society so backwards that we can't believe that being a teen is a very depressing thing? I don't care how popular you are or how high your grades are. Aren't all of us at least a little bit depressed? Childhood can seem like a prison sentence when you are a teen. I hear it all of the time. We just want to be grown up and be free from all of our parents’ silly rules. We have to understand what our lives are like if we are to understand the first rule of life, which is that life isn't fair. We need to, for lack of better words, stop pretending we aren't sad. Why? Because admittance is the first step to recovery.
The more we bottle up our emotions, the more likely we are to freak out. We might hurt ourselves or even worse. We aren't cutting because we think it's a fun thing to do. We want someone to notice it, because, dang it, we just want someone to care. Not everyone has parents like mine, and I'm sure you have something I don't. My parents are very open and are always ready to tell me the truth. They recount times of their early years and how unhappy they were. My mom says dad is the one who kept her alive, and dad says the same thing about her. Isn't that what friends are for? To keep each other alive in the nightmare we call life? Many don't have friends like them, and if you don't, it's okay to ask for a little extra help. Stop lying to yourself, because it's going to be okay.
I'm going to include a number for you to call if you need a little extra help with this stupid thing we call life. As always, I am Ameila Varner, the host of Get Help Now. I'm hoping that you can feel better and, maybe one day, smile. I'm sure that you have a smile as radiant as that soul you have inside that is begging for the happiness you've been denied. Here's that number:
1(800)852-8336
OPEN FROM 6PM TO 10PM PACIFIC TIME EVERY NIGHT
This is a number that is open for specific hours and can be called after hours for the suicide prevention line after hours. Remember, if you are on the east coast, subtract three hours for Pacific time, etc.
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