Depression - Teen Support Group
Teen depression is marked by persistent sadness, discouragement, loss of self-worth, and loss of interest in usual activities. Depression can be a temporary response to many situations and stresses. Teens may be more susceptible to depression due to the normal maturation process, the stress associated with it, and conflicts with parents as they become more independent.
I'm 15 years old, a sophomore in high school. I'm just around that age where my parents are expecting me to act like an adult, but still treat me like a child. This hard enough as it is, but this paired with a constant feeling of loneliness and anxiety makes each day more and more difficult.
I'm home schooled this year. I went to public school for 8th and 9th grade after home schooling up until that point. Now I'm back to having to deal with my overbearing mother 24 hours a day. Though she's not always overbearing in most cases (she lets me hang out with my friends a lot, and gives me freedom to roam all around my town on my bike), she gets to be very...controlling isn't the right word, but I can't think of another, so I'll say controlling. She gets to be very controlling when it comes to my future and school. When I was at public school in 8th and 9th grade, she was very strict about grades, and was barely okay with my low A's and occasional B's. Every time I came home excited about a good grade I got on an assignment, I got the same response: "Good job....but why didn't you get 100?" She never gives compliments unless prompted, and when she does, they never seem sincere or they seem surprised, like she wasn't expecting me to do well at all.
I have constant anxiety about the future and I don't do well with change. In my head, as far as I know, my life ends when I graduate. I don't know what I want to do when I get out of high school; I've always imagined myself going to college, but for what I don't know. The things I'm actually passionate about (stuff like writing and music) are things I could never have a career in or be successful and self-sufficient. I considered being a music teacher for a while, but my mother made me dismiss that idea by saying, "If you get a degree in music education, you might want to get a degree in teaching something else too. Schools aren't looking for music teachers." Music is the only thing I would ever want to teach. And because of my anxiety of finding a job when I'm an adult and being able to support myself financially, I got rid of the idea of being a music teacher.
Because I can't imagine myself doing anything when I get older (as far as my brain is concerned, I disappear off the face of the planet when I graduate high school.), I've been having a hard time focusing on my school work. I can't study, I can't listen to my lectures or do my assigned reading without getting distracted or just thinking "what's the point?" I act like a zombie when I'm at home, nothing excites me or makes me happy. I feel down all the time. The only time I ever seem to be happy is when I'm with my friends or when I'm at band, the only activity that gives me any joy anymore. Meanwhile, my mom thinks I'm only being lazy, and doesn't understand how much space anxiety takes up in my life. I take frequent naps because I hate dealing with reality and facing my parents and the real world. At this point I'm more often asleep than I am awake.
I feel like I could be so much happier if I could get back on the horse. Maybe that's an empty hope, but it's worth something I guess. The farther I fall behind in my studies, the more down on myself I feel. The more down on myself I feel, the less I feel like I can ever get caught up in my studies and do anything with my life. It's a vicious cycle I can't seem to break, and I'd really appreciate any suggestions to help me feel motivated or help me along. I'd just like to find someone who understands how I feel.
-Rachel
I'm home schooled this year. I went to public school for 8th and 9th grade after home schooling up until that point. Now I'm back to having to deal with my overbearing mother 24 hours a day. Though she's not always overbearing in most cases (she lets me hang out with my friends a lot, and gives me freedom to roam all around my town on my bike), she gets to be very...controlling isn't the right word, but I can't think of another, so I'll say controlling. She gets to be very controlling when it comes to my future and school. When I was at public school in 8th and 9th grade, she was very strict about grades, and was barely okay with my low A's and occasional B's. Every time I came home excited about a good grade I got on an assignment, I got the same response: "Good job....but why didn't you get 100?" She never gives compliments unless prompted, and when she does, they never seem sincere or they seem surprised, like she wasn't expecting me to do well at all.
I have constant anxiety about the future and I don't do well with change. In my head, as far as I know, my life ends when I graduate. I don't know what I want to do when I get out of high school; I've always imagined myself going to college, but for what I don't know. The things I'm actually passionate about (stuff like writing and music) are things I could never have a career in or be successful and self-sufficient. I considered being a music teacher for a while, but my mother made me dismiss that idea by saying, "If you get a degree in music education, you might want to get a degree in teaching something else too. Schools aren't looking for music teachers." Music is the only thing I would ever want to teach. And because of my anxiety of finding a job when I'm an adult and being able to support myself financially, I got rid of the idea of being a music teacher.
Because I can't imagine myself doing anything when I get older (as far as my brain is concerned, I disappear off the face of the planet when I graduate high school.), I've been having a hard time focusing on my school work. I can't study, I can't listen to my lectures or do my assigned reading without getting distracted or just thinking "what's the point?" I act like a zombie when I'm at home, nothing excites me or makes me happy. I feel down all the time. The only time I ever seem to be happy is when I'm with my friends or when I'm at band, the only activity that gives me any joy anymore. Meanwhile, my mom thinks I'm only being lazy, and doesn't understand how much space anxiety takes up in my life. I take frequent naps because I hate dealing with reality and facing my parents and the real world. At this point I'm more often asleep than I am awake.
I feel like I could be so much happier if I could get back on the horse. Maybe that's an empty hope, but it's worth something I guess. The farther I fall behind in my studies, the more down on myself I feel. The more down on myself I feel, the less I feel like I can ever get caught up in my studies and do anything with my life. It's a vicious cycle I can't seem to break, and I'd really appreciate any suggestions to help me feel motivated or help me along. I'd just like to find someone who understands how I feel.
-Rachel
deleted_user
I understand what you are going through. As I type this I'm skipping a day of school just because I don't see the point of it. I think that the best way to not be overwhelmed by everything is to take it one day at a time. I don't worry about what will happen a week from now or a month or a year. Try to focus on work one day at a time, but also keep yourself first. If you need a break say you need a break. Always look to the bright things and just breathe. Always here if you need to talk!
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