| No doubt you have seen the recent news | | | | Teenage boys will often become aggressive, |
| headlines about a federal panel that | | | | agitated, and get into trouble at home, at |
| recommended to the FDA that anti-depressant | | | | school, or with the law. Teenage girls will |
| medications carry the strongest possible | | | | sometimes become preoccupied with themes of |
| warning label for use in children and | | | | death or dying, and become decreasing |
| teenagers. This recommendation to the FDA | | | | concerned about how they look. Suicidal |
| shook the medical community, especially those | | | | thoughts are common. Some studies suggest |
| who work with depressed young people. The | | | | that 500,000 teens attempt suicide each year, |
| biggest problem from the treatment | | | | and 5000 are successful. Increased use of |
| community's point of view was not the | | | | alcohol or other drugs is common, along with |
| recommendation for the warning label, but the | | | | other forms of "self-destructive behaviors." |
| way that the media protrayed the panel's | | | | Poor self-esteem is common with teenagers, |
| recommendation. | | | | but especially with those who are depressed. |
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| The panel reported that 2% to 4% of children | | | | Parents are often confused and frustrated |
| and teens who were given anti-depressants for | | | | when their teens begin to act like this. |
| the treatment of depression became suicidal, | | | | Sometimes parents become stern |
| that is they had suicidal thoughts, or made | | | | disciplinarians, or even put the teen down, |
| suicidal attempts of one kind or another. | | | | which only serves to increase feelings of |
| None of the 4,000 children and teens studied | | | | guilt and depression. Other times, parents |
| committed suicide. | | | | feel helpless, and stand by waiting for |
| | | | adulthood to arrive. Of course neither course |
| | | | is the right one to take. If you know of a |
| | | | teen whose behaviors have changed to look |
| What the media did not report well is the | | | | like what has been described above, let the |
| fact that 15% of children and teens with | | | | parents know that there is help available, |
| depression who receive no treatment will | | | | and encourage the family to seek help from a |
| commit suicide. These 15% will not just think | | | | professional. With proper diagnosis and |
| about it, but will actually kill themselves. | | | | treatment a depressed teen, or adult, can be |
| | | | greatly helped. |
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| So what are we to do? If the media had their | | | | |
| way it seems that no teens with depression | | | | If someone close to you is suffering from |
| would receive anti-depressants. As a result | | | | depression, first please understand that |
| the suicide rate for those who could be using | | | | depression is a very emotionally painful |
| the medication would rise from nearly zero | | | | condition. For some people with depression it |
| percent to about fifteen percent. But at | | | | turns into a "terminal illness" due to |
| least we wouldn't have to be concerned about | | | | suicide. Please take the situation seriously. |
| evil medications. | | | | |
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| Look, I understand that there actually are | | | | 1) Get a medical evaluation. Symptoms of |
| young people, even adults, who have become | | | | depression can be the result of a wide |
| suicidal only after beginning treatment with | | | | assortment of illnesses, including thyroid |
| an anti-depressant. Some have in fact gone on | | | | problems, viral infections, and other |
| to take their own lives. This is absolutely | | | | factors. |
| tragic. But so is the fact that untreated | | | | |
| depression is potentially a fatal disease. | | | | |
| Fifteen out of one hundred young people with | | | | |
| depression take their own lives. They should | | | | 2) Deprex is an amino acid and homeopathic |
| be allowed to receive a treatment that will | | | | medicine for the treatment of depression that |
| lower the suicide rate dramatically, and | | | | we have seen work well with our patients. It |
| without any stigma attached to it by the | | | | may be worth trying as long as the situation |
| media. | | | | is "stable" and there is no suicidal thinking |
| | | | on the part of the depressed person. |
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| Recently we had a patient brought to our | | | | |
| counseling center named John (not his real | | | | 3) Medications such as Prozac can be very |
| name). John was rebellious, angry, withdrawn, | | | | helpful for more difficult cases. Consult |
| and in trouble often, and yet he was | | | | your doctor. These medications are often |
| diagnosed and treated for depression. | | | | prescribed by Family Practice Doctors, but in |
| | | | most cases ought to be monitored by |
| | | | Psychiatrists. |
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| When we think of someone who is depressed, we | | | | |
| usually picture a sad, tearful, lonesome | | | | |
| person. But teenagers with depression don't | | | | 4) Increase intake of Protein somewhat. Use a |
| look like adults with depression. Current | | | | protein powder supplement, just like a weight |
| studies show that there are about as many | | | | lifter. |
| teenagers who are depressed as there are | | | | |
| adults that are depressed. However, | | | | |
| depression is exhibited far differently by | | | | |
| teenagers than by adults. Teenagers do not | | | | 5) Exercise daily. Just get out and walk for |
| commonly display gloom, self-depreciation, or | | | | about 15 minutes. |
| talk about feeling hopeless like adults do. | | | | |
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| | | | 6) Seek out counseling from someone who is |
| Teenagers with Major Depression are described | | | | good at treating depression. This can do a |
| in diagnostic manuals as often becoming | | | | world of good for you. However, always use |
| negative and antisocial. Feelings of wanting | | | | great wisdom and common sense when choosing a |
| to leave home, or of not being understoodand | | | | therapist. Some are good, and some are not, |
| approved of increase. The teen often changes, | | | | so choose wisely.Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a |
| and becomes more restless, grouchy, or | | | | family therapist who has been working with |
| aggressive. A reluctance to cooperate in | | | | ADHD children and their families since 1986. |
| family ventures, and withdrawal from social | | | | He is the clinical director of the ADHD |
| activities, with retreat to one's room are | | | | Information Library's family of seven web |
| frequent. School difficulties are likely as | | | | sites, including helping over 350,000 |
| concentration is affected. Sometimes there is | | | | parents and teachers learn more about ADHD |
| inattention to personal appearance and | | | | each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the |
| increased emotionality. Often there is an | | | | Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International |
| increased sensitivity to rejection in love | | | | of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of |
| relationships as well. | | | | Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central |
| | | | California, and is President of NewIdeas.net |
| | | | Incorporated. |
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