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Depression is a serious illness that can affect anyone at any age. For many men, there is the added stigma that men with depression are weak or less than other men. This leads to men trying to be “strong and silent” about their mental health challenges and not seek the correct treatment. 

The following is Dr. Rosi’s final blog on Adolescent Depression.

As we’ve discussed in the previous blogs, Adolescent Depression is a challenging, and often debilitating, disease that needs to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible to achieve the best results.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and perspective on your sister’s depression.  Your observations on how Adolescent Depression can affect a person and family are shared by the hundreds of family members I have seen over my years of treating adolescents.  Depression can be so damaging to the person and the family on multiple levels.  We can all recall the challenges faced in normal adolescence, whether it be who you are as a person, what you believe in, whom you trust, or what you choose to wear to school that day.  Imagine having to deal with depression on top of all that, including continual sadness, low motivation and energy, and possibly disrupted sleep and appetite.  How does one talk about that when the world of adolescence, and the world in general, may stigmatize you?  Fortunately for those who seek help, there are effective treatments for Adolescent Depression and some exciting new research on the horizon.    

The following blog is from a guest blogger that is the sister of a child with Adolescent Depression.

Even though it’s my sister that has depression, all of the family is affected. And, while medication and therapy helps, things are never that simple.

The following blog is from a guest blogger that is the mother of a child with Adolescent Depression.

Being a mother is a gift and a challenge. Being the mother of the child with adolescent depression (AD) makes you appreciate the gift of the good times, but enhances the ongoing challenge of providing a supportive, nurturing environment.

This following is Dr. Rosi’s response to the Blog The Hills and Valleys of Being the Mother of a Child with Adolescent Depression from December 10, 2015.

Thanks for sharing this story. It is wonderful to hear that your daughter has supportive parents and professionals assisting in her care.  You bring up some very important points that should be highlighted.

The following blog is from a guest blogger that is the sister of a child with Adolescent Depression. 

Ever since I was little, I have known my family was different. We rarely sat at the dinner table together. We never went to the movies. We did not seem like a "normal" family. Both my dad and sister suffer from depression. What this means to me is that they have short tempers and usually cannot control their emotions. While living in a house with two people who suffer from this disease has been difficult, it is the relationship with my sister that has been hit the hardest.

Part three of three in our series on depression and the holidays.

Though the holidays can be a joyous time of year, they also come with seasonal stressors that can bring on the blues or trigger depressive episodes in those prone to the disease. In the last two posts, we discussed holiday stressors, as well as antidepressant medication, which is the first line of therapy for those suffering from major depression. There is also a subset of patients who do not respond adequately to antidepressants. For those who don't find relief from medication, there are now excellent non-pharmaceutical alternatives available, including Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a highly effective treatment with minimal side effects.

Part two of three in our series on depression and the holidays.

Holiday stress can be tough for anyone to handle, but it’s especially difficult for those of us who are prone to depression or going through personal challenges. Tense family gatherings, debilitating weather, high expectations, and the strain on our wallets can bring on the holiday blues or trigger depression.

The holidays can be a wonderful time to get together with family and friends. However, all the preparation, obligations, and unrealistic expectations can also lead to stress and anxiety. With the season stretching from Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day, it’s not uncommon to develop a touch of the blues along the way. And for those prone to depression, seasonal stressors can also trigger a depressive episode or exacerbate existing symptoms. While the holiday blues are temporary, depression is a serious illness that doesn’t disappear after the season is over. If you’re feeling down this winter, it’s important to recognize holiday pressures and understand the critical differences between temporary sadness and clinical depression.