FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TEENAGE DEPRESSION AND BIPOLAR ILLNESS

Q: If I am diagnosed as having a mood disorder, does it mean I'm crazy?

A: Having a mood disorder does not mean that you are out of control. Your family and friends may say that you seem to be different or that you are acting differently, but these changes occur because of your mood disorder. You may be more irritable and sad, or feel more isolated and less energetic. However, you, your family and your friends should remember that you have a biochemical disorder that can be treated like any other medical illness. The majority of people with mood disorders never lose touch with reality, become paranoid, hear voices or hallucinate- characteristics that the media and general public call "crazy."

Q: I don't think I'm depressed. I'm just 'stressed out.' What is the difference between having a bad day and clinical depression or bipolar disorder?

A: It is not unusual to go through stressful periods at school, with your family or at work. It is natural to assume that, if you feel down, stress may be the cause. However, depression does not necessarily result from one stressful event. You should ask yourself two important questions: How long have I been feeling irritable, down, or blue? Is my negative mood interfering with my life in important ways? If you have been feeling bad for over two weeks and you are no longer functioning as effectively as in the past, you need to see your doctor about the possibility that you may be clinically depressed.

Q: Will a mood disorder affect my concentration?

A: Loss of concentration may dramatically affect your schoolwork. This common symptom of mood disorders makes studying difficult because you can no longer focus on a  task and your memory and decision-making abilities are not as sharp. You may find that your mind strays more often and that you cannot remember what you just read. You may find it diifcult to work on, or even understand, homework assignments. You may even find yourself becoming very indecisive, wasting a lot of time choosing what subject to study first or which homework assignment to complete. If you feel that your teachers, counselor and school nurse are open to talking with you about your mood disorder, you would be wise to let them know what you are going through. Otherwise, they might assume that you just don't care or are lazy and they will fail to see how they can really help you.

When you begin to respond to the medication, you should again be able to focus, concentrate and study effectively and there is every chance that your grades will improve. Even if you are tempted to live with your low moods, remember how much untreated depression will cost you in terms of lowered brain power. The good news is that we know more today about how to treat mental illness effectively and appporpriately. While depression is a very serious illness, it is also highly treatable, particularly when detected early. Most teenagers with depression usually respond well to treatment.

Q: No one I know ever gets enough sleep because there is just too much to do. Why is getting the proper amount of sleep important?

A: Research on sleep deprivation (lack of sleep) shows that not getting enough sleep affects your reaction time, your ability to think, concentrate and make decisions, which lowers the quality of the work you do. Sleep deprivation can also trigger a manic episode. Therefore, it is important to get sufficient sleep and to establish regular sleeping habits.

Q: Can an episode of depression change the way I think?

A: When you are depressed, your self-esteem is usually so low that you  cannot think of yourself in a positive way. You will not see your talents, positive attributes or contributions. You will only see what you think you may have "messed up." In a deep depression, you feel so worthless and hopeless that your attitude may be, "What's the use?" or "They'll be glad to get rid of me." You may feel responsible for things that are not your fault. Your ability to concentrate and make good decisions is impaired. All of this demonstrates how important it is to seek treatment.

Q: Will depression get worse as I get older?

A: Early diagnosis, a good treatment plan and close monitoring by a qualified health care professional will significantly reduce the probability that your depression will worsen with age. Mood disorders will increase in severity and frequency if left untreated. They can take over your life if you do not get this treatment. Learn as much as you can about the illness and follow your doctor's treatment plan.

Q: Are there certain times of the year when I might be more likely to become depressed?

A: In general, clinical depression or bipolar disorder can occur at any time fo the year. Some clinicians, however, have observed that, for many adolescents, depresion becomes worse in late autumn and winter and lifts with the arrival of spring.

You may have heard that suicides rise during the spring. This is not as contradictory as it seems. What may be happening during the winter is that the depressed individual literally does not have the energy to plan and carry out a suicide. With the coming of spring, however, the lengthening days begin to energize this individual. When this happens, the seriously depressed individual has the energy to do something about the anguish and may be more motivated to carry out an act of suicide. 

Use of Information

Day for Night is NOT about Suicide Prevention or Violence Prevention. This film is not intended for use in Suicide Prevention Programming or Violence Prevention Education.

The information on this site is intended to help users learn about teenage depression and related mood disorders. It is provided for informational and referral purposes only. The web site should NOT be used as a substitute for medical advice, counseling, or other health-related services or as a replacement for the services of a trained medical or mental health professional. For medical or mental health advice, services, and treatment, consult your primary care physician or a qualified mental health care professional.