What is Depression and What Can I Do About It?
This page is about depression and ways you or your child can get help for it. When we say “you,” we are speaking to the child or teen who may have depression.
What is depression?
Everyone feels sad sometimes. But depression is more than sadness. You may be depressed if certain feelings and moods last for more than 2 weeks and get in the way of your life.
What are some signs that I could be depressed?
You may feel:
- Very sad
- Hopeless
- Worthless
- Guilty
- Empty or numb
- Angry
- Grouchy
- Like not doing things you used to enjoy
You may notice that your mood gets in the way of your life. It could impact things at home or school. It could also impact your friendships. You may notice changes with:
- How your body works. You may:
- Gain or lose weight
- Sleep too much or too little
- Feel tired most of the time
- Move quicker or slower than normal
- How you think. You may:
- Be unable to focus
- Think about harming yourself
Remember, if you feel depressed, you can get better. See below for ways to get help. If you think about harming yourself, reach out for help right away. You can:
- Call 988: The national helpline for suicide and mental health. Dial ‘988’ and someone will help you.
- Text the Crisis Text Line: The national text line when you are in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 and someone will text you back and help you.
How can I find out if I have depression?
Only a doctor or therapist can tell you that you have (diagnose you with) depression. You can:
- See a doctor. Talk to your primary care doctor who can help you.
- See a therapist. Find a therapist in your area.
- Take a free screener. This is a quiz you take online that tells you if you might have depression. Share your results with your doctor or therapist.
How do I get better if I have depression?
Depression is hard, but you can get better. Some ways to get better are to:
- Go to mental health therapy
- Take medication, if prescribed
- Make changes to your daily routine to feel better
How can therapy help with depression?
Therapy is when you talk to a therapist trained in mental health. Some therapies that could help you feel better include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT helps you feel better by changing how you think, feel, and act.
- Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents (IPT-A): IPT-A helps you:
- Improve your relationships, such as with your parents or friends
- Deal with grief when someone you know has died
- Learn skills to solve problems and deal with changes in your life
Find a therapist in your area.
How can medicine help with depression?
Some medicines may help with depression. Talk with your doctor or psychiatrist to see if medicine is right for you.
How can I make changes to feel better?
You can also get better when you make changes to your daily life, such as:
- Spend time with others. You could:
- Ask your family to eat a meal or play a game together
- Ask a friend to go on a walk or to a movie
- Enjoy time with a pet
- Be active. You could:
- Go on a walk with a friend
- Dance to your favorite music
- Join a club, such as a club for a sport you like
- Eat in a healthy way. You could:
- Eat around the same times every day
- Eat many kinds of food, such as foods that give you energy
- Eat enough to feel full, but not overfull
- Keep a sleep routine. You could:
- Turn off screens before bed, such as your phone or TV
- Do something to make you feel calm before bed
- Go to sleep and wake up around the same time each day