Teens And Depression

Deborah Roberts on “Good Morning America” just did a report on depression and teens. It is a big issues that over 20% of all teens suffer from at one time or another.

Now, if your teen is eating a great deal and gaining weight, this may be one of the signs that he/she is depressed. The reason that they are eating, and mostly choosing sweet carbs (hello cookies, cake and candy), is because they are trying, through food, to increase their serotonin levels. That’s even what we do as adults when we overeat these foods.

That is where medication steps in. Now, once again, I am not a doctor, but have witnessed may people suffering from depression, and it is awful.

If you, or someone close to you appears to be withdrawn, depressed and sad, then please, urge them to see their doctor and deal with the situation rather than hoping it will simply pass.

And motivate them to exercise. When studies are done and one group exercises while the other takes medication, the results are virtually the same. That is how powerful exercise is for both the body AND the mind.

Jim